text stringlengths 237 126k | date_download stringdate 2022-01-01 00:32:20 2023-01-01 00:02:37 ⌀ | source_domain stringclasses 60 values | title stringlengths 4 31.5k ⌀ | url stringlengths 24 617 ⌀ | id stringlengths 24 617 ⌀ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jordan Love’s first big opportunity of the 2022 season will come Friday night in Santa Clara. Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Love will start against the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason opener.
Love in the starting lineup means NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who is now in his 18th season, won’t play.
Love started the preseason opener last season against the Houston Texans, completing 12 of 17 passes for 122 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions.
The Packers see growth in Love to start his third NFL season.
“I think he’s much more in rhythm,” LaFleur said on Sunday. “I think there’s more decisiveness. I think you see it in his footwork, and he’s not getting what I call ‘stuck’ at the top of the drop, where both feet are hitting at the same time and he’s just kind of sitting there. It just looks more rhythmical, just looks more fluid and I think it’s translated in his play. I think he’s definitely thrown the ball pretty accurately and has made pretty good decisions.”
The start of the Packers’ preseason opener on Friday night is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT from Levi’s Stadium. It will be broadcast on the Packers TV Network and NFL Network.
LaFleur said he wouldn’t have an answer on Aaron Rodgers playing in the preseason until after joint practices with the New Orleans Saints later this month, leaving open the possibility of Rodgers getting some snaps in the preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. | 2022-08-08T16:39:22Z | sports.yahoo.com | Packers to start Jordan Love at QB to open preseason vs. 49ers | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-start-jordan-love-qb-150741633.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-start-jordan-love-qb-150741633.html?src=rss |
The preseason edition of the USA Today coaches poll was released Monday and Georgia came in at No. 3 behind Alabama and Ohio State. Alabama, of course, lost to UGA in last year’s CFP title game while Ohio State fell short of winning the Big Ten championship for the first time since 2016.
Nonetheless, with so much talent returning in 2022, the Crimson Tide and Buckeyes were voted as the top two teams in the country entering the season, according to the panel of 65 FBS head coaches who participate in the poll.
Alabama received 54 of the 65 first-place votes while Ohio State received five and Georgia received six.
Next on the list at No. 4 is Clemson, which is coming off a rare three-loss season filled with injuries and poor offensive play. After the Tigers at No. 5 is Notre Dame, which is entering its first season with Marcus Freeman in place as head coach. The Irish won 11 games last fall but saw longtime head coach Brian Kelly leave South Bend for LSU.
Michigan, on the heels of its first win over Ohio State since 2011 and its first outright Big Ten title since 2003, is ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll. Rounding out the top 10 are No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 8 Utah, No. 9 Oklahoma and No. 10 Baylor.
Texas A&M, which went 8-4 last year but did have a big upset over Alabama, is entering its fifth season under Jimbo Fisher with massive expectations. Utah, meanwhile, is coming off its first-ever Pac-12 title. Oklahoma saw Lincoln Riley (and star QB Caleb Williams) leave Norman for USC and now has former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables in place as head coach. Baylor, meanwhile, was the surprise Big 12 champion in 2021 but is looking to replace a bevy of veteran contributors from last year’s team.
Speaking of USC, the Trojans are No. 15 in the poll despite going 4-8 last year as Riley attempts to quickly rebuild the program in the Pac-12 before the big move to the Big Ten.
Another high-profile coaching move was Mario Cristobal leaving Oregon for Miami, his alma mater. While Oregon, which hired ex-Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, is No. 12, the Hurricanes are ranked No. 17 entering Cristobal’s first year.
Another team looking to bounce back from a losing season is Texas, which is No. 18 and curiously received a single first-place vote. Yes, really. | 2022-08-08T17:03:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia top college football preseason coaches poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-ohio-state-georgia-top-college-football-preseason-coaches-poll-163012976.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-ohio-state-georgia-top-college-football-preseason-coaches-poll-163012976.html?src=rss |
With less than a month left until the start of the 2022 college football season, we finally have the preseason coaches poll. It was released on Monday.
In a not-so-surprising turn of events, the Alabama Crimson Tide take the top spot as many believed would be the case. The defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs take the No. 3 spot in the initial poll. Overall there are six SEC teams in the top 25 and three in the top 10. The Texas A&M Aggies debut at No. 7. Another five SEC teams led by the Tennessee Vols received votes on the preseason coaches poll. | 2022-08-08T17:03:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | Alabama takes top spot in USA TODAY Sports coaches poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-takes-top-spot-usa-164023633.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-takes-top-spot-usa-164023633.html?src=rss |
The Tennessee Volunteers delivered a statement in 2021, proving coach Josh Heupel's high-octane offense could flourish in the most talented conference in college football. The Vols scorched defenses for 45 or more points seven times while averaging slightly under 40 points per game for the season. They were ninth in total offense (474 yards per game), but it would be short-sighted to attribute all of their success to the aggressive pace they put on opposing defenses. On a per-play basis, Tennessee wasn't only fast; it was efficient. The offense's 6.74 yards per play landed it inside the Top 20, peaking at 7.03 in the last full month of the season. It was no secret that Heupel's offense was fast, but the speed of the program's turnaround in Tennessee took most by surprise.
The inevitable byproduct of instant success is the expectations that follow. Tennessee's seven-win year accelerated the timeline for Heupel to raise the bar even further in his second season. The offense will be loaded once again. QB Hendon Hooker returns after throwing 31 touchdowns against three interceptions. His growth in Heupel's scheme positions him as an intriguing 50-to-1 long shot at BetMGM to win the Heisman Trophy. Also returning is his most dependable target in WR Cedric Tillman. That electric combination finished last season by connecting seven times for 150 yards and three touchdowns in the Music City Bowl. But as they found out in that 48-45 loss to Purdue, you can't rely on outscoring everybody. And with expectations soaring in Year 2, it's going to be the defense that decides whether this team improves in 2022.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel speaks during SEC Media Days on July 21, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Is the Vols' offense enough to push them to eight wins?
A big part of Heupel's offensive identity is keeping his foot on the gas, but the Vols' defense made it an absolute must. Last year's Music City Bowl was a prime example. Tennessee lost to Purdue despite gaining 663 yards of total offense. Boilermakers QB Aidan O'Connell did whatever he wanted, throwing for 534 yards in the overtime win. In addition, Tennessee's porous secondary ranked dead last in the SEC in pass defense, and the team opted not to bring in a lot of outside help to improve the unit. That's a big gamble for a defense that finished outside of the top 100 in three key categories:
Points allowed per quality possession
Explosive pass plays allowed of 20-plus yards or more
Opponent third-down conversion rate
The Vols' defense relies on a strong pass rush to create havoc, but I have concerns about whether that approach can be successful against the talent-rich offenses of the SEC. The Vols' in-conference wins last season were against Missouri, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt. Those four teams had a combined conference record of 9-23.
Tennessee 8 wins: Over (-105); Under (-115)
After spending most of the summer at 7.5 wins, strong support for the over has pushed the win total to 8. The adjustment opens up the perfect opportunity to bet the under with push protection in case of an 8-4 season. Nine wins would be far too great of a leap for a team with the defensive question marks Tennessee carries into this year. It's much easier to find five losses on the schedule than three. A 9-3 season would allow only one loss in addition to the inevitable two coming from Alabama and Georgia.
The Vols have three tough road games at Pittsburgh, LSU, and South Carolina, plus two conference home games hosting Kentucky and Florida. That's five opponents, outside of Alabama and Georgia, that I expect to be competitive. One thing that stuck out to me about Tennessee was that despite last year's 7-6 record, it didn't show the ability to punch up against stronger teams. Tennessee was 1-5 ATS as an underdog, and it should remind bettors that even after a successful first year, Heupel is still building his roster. The Vols' style of play also makes them more susceptible to high-variance outcomes. You can't put teams away if your defense can't get off the field.
Heupel has done a tremendous job building a new culture in Knoxville, where they have every reason to be optimistic. But, it's too fast and too soon to expect the team to continue on this trajectory. I see the Vols as a 7-win team, which makes under 8 wins a solid bet at -115 odds. The Vols' offense will continue to break records under Heupel, but the team will be stuck in neutral until the defense catches up.
*Stats provided by teamrankings.com, athlon sports, and cfbstats.com. | 2022-08-08T17:03:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | College football betting, odds: Is Tennessee still a team on the rise? | https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-betting-odds-is-tennessee-still-a-team-on-the-rise-155014400.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-betting-odds-is-tennessee-still-a-team-on-the-rise-155014400.html?src=rss |
Cheese is a well-known antidepressant. I don’t have a source for that because it’s both proven and disproven by science. Low-fat dairy is one of those things they say is good for you, overall, unless you’re allergic or vegan. Lots of cheese can actually give you a drug interaction if you take certain medications, called “the cheese effect.” But anyone who loves cheese will tell you that it makes life better, even if it doesn’t always make us healthier. And one new study potentially points to a c | 2022-08-08T17:03:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | Every FBS team that won’t play an FCS team this upcoming season | https://sports.yahoo.com/every-fbs-team-won-t-160225400.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/every-fbs-team-won-t-160225400.html?src=rss |
The preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll is officially out, and unfortunately for Florida football fans, the Gators were excluded from the initial rankings for the upcoming 2022 season.
The Orange and Blue are coming off a disappointing campaign that saw the end of the Dan Mullen era thanks to some egregious underperformances by the team, which led to the program’s worst record in Southeastern Conference play since 1986. While the hiring of former Lousiana Ragin’ Cajuns head coach Billy Napier instilled a good deal of confidence in the fanbase so far, he has yet to prove himself at a Power Five school — much less, the grueling gauntlet of the SEC.
Subsequently, it comes as no surprise that the Gators sit outside of the top 25 with only 17 votes, but the bearish early outlook really amounts to nothing more than an educated guess. A convincing win in Week 1 over the Utah Utes, who come to Gainesville ranked No. 8 in the Coaches Poll, would do wonders for the team’s standing and would likely have them sneaking into the rankings.
There are six SEC schools in the top 25, with the Alabama Crimson Tide coming in at No. 1, the defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs at No. 3 and the Texas A&M Aggies at No. 7, while the Kentucky Wildcats, Arkansas Razorbacks and Ole Miss Rebels help close out the top 25 at Nos. 21, 23 and 24, respectively. | 2022-08-08T17:04:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | Gators left out of preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll top 25 | https://sports.yahoo.com/gators-left-preseason-usa-today-162712193.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/gators-left-preseason-usa-today-162712193.html?src=rss |
The telltale signs that college football season is nearly upon us continue to mount, with Big Ten media days having taken place two weeks ago, fall camp having begun, and now, the next step has taken place.
The preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll dropped on Monday afternoon, showing the college football world what the expectations are across the sport. While there’s certain to be dramatic changes once the season is underway — highly-ranked teams won’t be ranked at all, while those who weren’t even in the top 25 will find themselves up near the top — it’s a good barometer of where teams stand, or at least how they’re thought of as they approach the 2022 season. Last year, Michigan was one of those unranked teams, only to finish third overall, thanks to beating Ohio State and making the College Football Playoff.
But how are the Wolverines thought of heading into this new season? Not top in the Big Ten, but certainly up there. The maize and blue checked in at No. 6 overall, behind only Ohio State at No. 2 in the conference. MSU and Wisconsin are the only other Big Ten teams ranked at No. 14 and 20, respectively. Iowa is the first one receiving votes not in the top 25, followed immediately by Penn State.
Rcd.
Pvs. | 2022-08-08T17:04:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | Michigan football one of the top teams in preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-football-one-top-teams-161911454.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-football-one-top-teams-161911454.html?src=rss |
David McCullough, the two-time Pulitzer Prize winning historian whose biographies gave character and compelling narratives to figures and moments that make up the fabric of the American experience, has died. He was 89. His daughter, Dorie Lawson, confirmed his death to The New York Times. Two of McCullough’s most famous works, presidential biographies of Harry […]
Earth’s days are getting longer and no one knows why
In the past two years, days have been generally getting longer, even after compensating for known factors such as tides and seasonal effects. | 2022-08-08T17:04:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Pro Football Focus features Tank Bigsby in ‘names in the spotlight’ list | https://sports.yahoo.com/pro-football-focus-features-tank-160054018.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/pro-football-focus-features-tank-160054018.html?src=rss |
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud plays gestures to his team during their game against Oregon Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.
Texas A&M running back Devon Achane, right, scores a touchdown in front of Missouri's Jaylon Carlies, left, during the first quarter Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Columbia, Mo.
Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen (0) runs as Iowa's defensive back Dane Belton (4) and linebacker Jack Campbell (31) pursues during the second half Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Madison, Wis.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football preseason coaches poll: Outlooks for the Top 25 teams | 2022-08-08T17:04:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | Top 25 coaches poll: A closer look at every team in college football's preseason ranking | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-25-coaches-poll-closer-164016218.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-25-coaches-poll-closer-164016218.html?src=rss |
Even with everything surrounding the Nets in the 2021-22 season, Durant still averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists as he threw the Nets on his back when it was needed.
With that being said, Durant has been knocked down a bit in the top 25 small forward rankings by HoopsHype. He ranks as the second-best small forward behind Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum:
On top of that, Durant made the Brooklyn Nets a huge 11.9 points per 100 possessions better with his presence.
Uncertainty about where he’ll play does cast a cloud over his head, as does his brutal showing against the Celtics in the playoffs, but the latter shouldn’t be used as a referendum to indicate Durant’s play is about to taper off. After all, remember the 2021 playoffs when (Jimmy) Butler averaged 14 points while getting swept by the Bucks? How’d he bounce back after that?
The trade request Durant made to get out of Brooklyn does cast a lot of doubt on his current situation, but it doesn’t change the fact that he is still one of the top players in the game. The things he does out on the basketball court make him an all-time great and if he does return to the Nets in the 2022-23 season, the expectation is that he and Kyrie Irving will continue to try and guide Brooklyn to the franchise’s first-ever title. | 2022-08-08T17:55:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | Nets star Kevin Durant ranked as the 2nd best small forward in the NBA | https://sports.yahoo.com/nets-star-kevin-durant-ranked-163600462.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nets-star-kevin-durant-ranked-163600462.html?src=rss |
“He was really good,” said Peterson, via the Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson. “I remember him telling me all the time he’s going to make these same catches that he was making in the … parking lot at (LSU’s) Tiger Stadium, that he did.”
Jefferson grew up to become an LSU Tiger, and he did everything he said he was going to do to Peterson in that parking lot.
He went on to become a Second-team All-SEC receiver, a national champion and the No. 22 overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft. And now, he’s arguably the best receiver in the league.
In this Mets post game news conference, David Peterson talks about adjusting to being a spot starter and how well he's done in that role, after shutting down the Braves in Game 1.
Dolphins’ Sam Eguavoen says he thrives with his back against the wall
There's a lot of competition at his position. | 2022-08-08T17:56:21Z | sports.yahoo.com | Patrick Peterson recalls crazy childhood prediction by Justin Jefferson | https://sports.yahoo.com/patrick-peterson-recalls-crazy-childhood-172133897.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/patrick-peterson-recalls-crazy-childhood-172133897.html?src=rss |
Linderbaum was showing flashes in training camp, but got rolled up during Thursday’s practice and limped off of the field. Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh initially said that the rookie would miss one-to-two weeks, and on Monday, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network shed more light onto the injury, revealing that it falls under the category of a Lisfranc sprain.
Linderbaum dealt with a Lisfranc injury in college, and depending on the severity can sometimes pose very long recovery times. There seems to be optimism within the Ravens’ organization that the ailment won’t keep Linderbaum out for long, but they could take an extremely cautious approach with the rookie to make sure it doesn’t develop into something more serious.
Donovan Solano is the Reds' nly position player who is eligible for free agency at the end of the year. | 2022-08-08T17:56:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | Reported details of injury to Ravens C Tyler Linderbaum revealed | https://sports.yahoo.com/reported-details-injury-ravens-c-163702730.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/reported-details-injury-ravens-c-163702730.html?src=rss |
The Chicago Bears have wrapped their second week of training camp at Halas Hall. There were no shortage of storylines, including more development along the offensive line and some injury updates.
The Bears are gearing up for the start of the preseason, where players will get more chances to prove themselves. But before that, there were some standout performances during the second week of practice. Whether it’s veterans looking to break out or rookies looking to be immediate impact players, there were some encouraging performances on display.
Here’s a look at seven players who impressed during the second week of training camp practices:
Rookie running back Trestan Ebner has been in the headlines this week as he continues to flash his impressive skillset during practice. Ebner has been one of the standouts since the start of training camp, where he’s showcased his speed and playmaking ability. That’s included some impressive runs during team drills, where he showed his elusiveness. Ebner has been utilized in multiple roles, whether it’s in the run game or catching passes out of the backfield. While the Bears have their top backs in David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert, Ebner could carve out a nice role for himself on offense as a rookie.
They Said It: “He can catch the ball really well out of the backfield, he’s really explosive. I’m excited to see what he can do because he’s a very explosive player.” — Khalil Herbert on Ebner
Veteran wide receiver Tajae Sharpe started training camp on the non-football injury (NFI) list, which didn’t help his chances as a roster bubble player competing for a roster spot. But with injuries to some of Chicago’s top wideouts, Sharpe is seeing increased reps with the starters, and he’s making the most of them. Sharpe has been a standout over this last week, where he’s made some impressive catches from Fields. If Sharpe continues to impress during practice and into the preseason, he could certainly find himself in the mix for a roster spot.
They Said It: “When you have a guy step up like that, that’s awesome. That’s what it’s all about, right? Guys go down, guys step up and Tajae did a nice job. We’re excited to have him back. He’s back now and he looks good in the drills.” — Matt Eberflus on Sharpe
Rookie safety Jaquan Brisker has been must-see TV at training camp, where he continues to make an impression as a ballhawk in the secondary. It’s easy to see why the Bears were high on Brisker coming out of the draft. He’s physical, instinctive and always seems to be around the football. He’s either forcing turnovers or getting his hand on the ball, and it’s clear he’s going to be a problem for opposing offenses. It hasn’t necessarily been good for Chicago’s offense, which is looking to make progress. But it’s been good for the Bears secondary, which was one of the worst in the league last season.
They Said It: “Jaquan, I didn’t really know too much about him coming in. I had a lot of question marks, but just seeing him play, and having conversations with him, and working out after practice, he’s definitely hungry for success. He’s definitely a competitor. He wants to win, and I love that to start with, for sure.” — Jaylon Johnson on Brisker
Defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad comes to the Bears with a knowledge of Matt Eberflus’ defense, which has made for an easy transition. He’s been making a solid impact through these second week of practices, where he’s been bringing pressure on quarterback Justin Fields. During one practice, Muhammad had a dominant two-minute drill, where he would’ve had three sacks on Fields. But he’s consistently brought pressure on Fields — which isn’t encouraging for the offensive line — where he’s gotten home for the sack of forced incompletions by Fields. Muhammad is battling the for the starting edge rusher job with Trevis Gipson. And while both have had a strong camp, Muhammad appears to have a slight edge.
They Said It: “Get to the quarterback and hit the quarterback as many times as I can. That’s pretty much it. I don’t really have a particular number, just do it as many times as I can do it.” — Al-Quadin Muhammad on his goal for 2022
With star linebacker Roquan Smith on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list — and still amid a contract dispute — it’s given veteran Joe Thomas an opportunity to show what he’s got. Thomas has been one of the standouts at linebacker this summer, where he’s been taking reps at strong-side linebacker with the starters. He’s competing with Matt Adams, who’s filling in for Smith at WILL, for that starting SAM spot. Thomas leads the team’s linebackers in turnovers through for the first two weeks of practice. Thomas is certainly someone who could benefit from a strong training camp, especially with roster spots up for grabs at linebacker.
They Said It: “He stands out because he’s leading the group in turnovers. We keep track of how many guys have intercepted the ball, how many balls you’ve knocked out, how many scoop and scores and he’s leading the group. So those two guys are standouts right now.” — Alan Williams on Thomas
WR Equanimeous St. Brown
While Darnell Mooney continues to be the standout at wide receiver, it’s Equanimeous St. Brown who’s been one of the most pleasant surprises of the summer. Given Fields is working with a mostly-new receiving corp, the fact that St. Brown is growing into a dependable target for Fields is noteworthy. St. Brown has been a top target during red zone drills, given he’s a big-bodied receiver, and he’s limited mistakes, for the most part. But St. Brown has the added benefit of previously playing in Luke Getsy’s offense, which has helped Fields.
They Said It: “He’s been in this offense for a number of years, so he really doesn’t make mistakes when it comes to running the plays. He’s definitely always in the right spot and knows where to be on certain plays. He’s a weapon in this offense for sure.” — Justin Fields on St. Brown
Rookie Braxton Jones has made quite the impression during training camp, and that shows with the coaching staff giving Jones all of the first-team reps at left tackle over the last week. While he was splitting reps with Riley Reiff, Reiff was eventually moved to right tackle and Jones has been the guy at left tackle ever since. At this point, Jones appears to be the favorite to start at left tackle when the regular season kicks off. While he’s been far from perfect, Jones has held his own against some talented edge rushers in Robert Quinn, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Trevis Gipson. Right now, this appears to be Jones’ job to lose.
They Said It: “You get into the pads and there was zero intimidation. Going against Robert Quinn your very first one-on-one pass rush, right? It’s an intimidating thing. He stepped up and did a great job. He’s answered the bell.” — Luke Getsy on Jones | 2022-08-08T18:26:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | 7 Bears who impressed during the second week of training camp | https://sports.yahoo.com/7-bears-impressed-during-second-180345979.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/7-bears-impressed-during-second-180345979.html?src=rss |
What advice Bryant Young gave 49ers' Kinlaw ahead of key season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
It was probably no coincidence when Bryant Young was recently around the current 49ers, one of the individuals with whom he had a lengthy conversation was Javon Kinlaw.
Young set the standard for professionalism, class and drive during his 14 seasons with the 49ers. On Saturday, he delivered an emotional speech upon his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Young entered the NFL in 1994 as the No. 7 overall pick. Kinlaw was chosen No. 14 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.
"He is a big, big presence," Young said of Kinlaw on 49ers Talk. "He looks really good, too. Leaner. Long. But his body is tight."
Kinlaw underwent reconstructive knee surgery last November. He appeared to get into much-better physical condition during his months of physical therapy and conditioning at the 49ers' team complex in Santa Clara.
When Young entered the NFL with the 49ers, he was surrounded by extraordinary talent. Young made a major contribution as a rookie toward the team's fifth Super Bowl championship that season.
Likewise, Kinlaw is surrounded by a strong and deep group of defensive linemen.
"I just told him, ‘It’s a great opportunity for you,'" Young said. "'Don’t put more pressure on yourself than you need to. Just go and do what you know you can do. Be confident. Trust your teammates, be motivated by your teammates to play at your best.'
"So great conversation between us."
Young clearly enjoyed conversations he had with such players as Kinlaw and quarterback Trey Lance. Although he makes his home in Charlotte, N.C., he said he plans to make himself available to serve in any way possible for Kinlaw and other members of the current team.
"I want to make sure I do a good job of doing more speaking to guys like him," Young said. | 2022-08-08T18:26:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | What advice Bryant Young gave 49ers' Javon Kinlaw before key season | https://sports.yahoo.com/advice-bryant-young-gave-49ers-161008779.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/advice-bryant-young-gave-49ers-161008779.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens took care of a little business on Monday, announcing a four-year contract extension with kicker Justin Tucker.
Widely regarded as perhaps the best kicker in the league, Tucker has been a rock for Baltimore since his rookie season back in 2012. He is coming off perhaps his best season as a professional, as his field goal percentage of 94.6% last season was his career-best.
Tucker also set an NFL record with a 66-yard field goal to beat the Detroit Lions on the final play last season:
4 more years of Justin Tucker being a Raven 🦵 pic.twitter.com/iZLxUXZagA
The team announced the extension on social media:
Ravens announced a four-year contract extension for Justin Tucker, who now is expected to become the NFL’s highest-paid kicker. pic.twitter.com/LHFPe88GhM
As noted, the deal will likely make Tucker the highest-paid kicker in the game. And with the terms of the deal announced, Tucker is indeed the highest-paid kicker in the league:
The Ravens — and their fans — probably believe he will be worth every penny. | 2022-08-08T18:26:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens make Justin Tucker the highest-paid kicker in NFL | https://sports.yahoo.com/baltimore-ravens-sign-k-justin-163251068.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/baltimore-ravens-sign-k-justin-163251068.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens activated the running back from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Monday after he passed his physical from a torn ACL. Dobbins missed the entire 2021 season after sustaining the injury in last year's preseason finale.
Per the Ravens, Dobbins will be eased into action at practice, starting with individual drills. They did not set a timeline for his return to live action. The Ravens open their season on Sept. 11 against the New York Jets. They start preseason play on Thursday against the Tennessee Titans.
A second-round pick out of Ohio State in 2020, Dobbins stood out as a rookie, averaging six yards per carry en route to 805 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground while sharing the backfield with Gus Edwards and Mark Ingram. He was expected to take a more prominent role last season alongside Edwards prior to his injury.
J.K. Dobbins is back on a Ravens practice field. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Edwards likewise sustained an ACL tear last preseason, leaving the Ravens scrambling at running back. Veteran Devonta Freeman signed after the injuries to Dobbins and Edwards and led Ravens running backs in rushing last season with 576 yards. Quarterback Lamar Jackson led the team with 767 yards on the ground.
Edwards remains on the PUP list and is officially questionable for Week 1. Dobbins is the presumed lead back when they're both healthy. The Ravens also have veterans Mike Davis and Corey Clement and sixth-round rookie Tyler Badie on the running back depth chart. | 2022-08-08T18:27:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL training camp 2022: Ravens activate J.K. Dobbins from PUP list, ACL tear that sidelined him in 2021 | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-training-camp-2022-ravens-activate-jk-dobbins-from-pup-list-acl-tear-that-sidelined-him-in-2021-173957092.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-training-camp-2022-ravens-activate-jk-dobbins-from-pup-list-acl-tear-that-sidelined-him-in-2021-173957092.html?src=rss |
Gary Player of South Africa acknowledges the crowd from the first tee during the Celebration of Champions prior to The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 11, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland - GETTY IMAGES
Here’s a piece of memorabilia that Colts owner Jim Irsay may not be inclined to purchase. A Joe Namath mink coat from the 1970s is available from Heritage Auctions. The current leading bid is $5,250. The coat, which has the initials JWN on the inside, comes with a signed football and a signed Esquire magazine [more]
Prepared remarks today will be provided by Donnie King, president and chief executive officer; and Stewart Glendinning, EVP and chief financial officer. Additionally, Shane Miller, group president, fresh meats; Noelle O'Mara, Group President, prepared foods; David Bray, Group President, Poultry; and Chris Langholz, group president, international, will join the live Q&A session.
Following a 5-4 loss to Minnesota, the South Dakota Little League team saw its season come to an end. | 2022-08-08T19:26:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Gary Player accuses son of selling his memorabilia without permission | https://sports.yahoo.com/gary-player-accuses-son-selling-184259969.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/gary-player-accuses-son-selling-184259969.html?src=rss |
Arguably the biggest storyline for the UNC football program going into this season is at the quarterback position. With Sam Howell off the NFL, UNC has it’s first true quarterback competition since the 2019 offseason.
Redshirt freshman Drake Maye and sophomore Jacolby Criswell have been battling it out all offseason to win the starting job. And so far, no true leader has emerged which could be a good or bad thing.
Head coach Mack Brown and his staff aren’t holding back in this contest and are throwing everything at the two. As training camp continues on, it doesn’t appear we are any closer to naming a winner and UNC could wait until the week of their opening game to decide who gets the nod.
As the regular season approaches, we decided to kickoff our position preview with the quarterback position and look at not only Maye and Criswell but the depth behind them.
Going into the 2021 season, many expected it to be the last for quarterback Sam Howell. The Tar Heels entered the season with high expectations, being ranked No. 10 in the preseason polls. But it ended in disappointment.
UNC’s offense struggled all season long as the line couldn’t protect Howell and the quarterback didn’t have many weapons to target in terms of receiving options. That led to struggles all around despite Howell turning in a season in which he completed 62.5 percent of his throws for 3,056 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions.
Howell had to add a new element to his game in terms of scrambling and taking off with the ball. He had 183 rushing attempts for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns. That’s an impressive stat line but not one you really want your quarterback to have.
Redshirt freshman Drake Maye enters this season appearing in four games a year ago. He made his debut against Georgia State and appeared in games against Duke, Wofford, and the team’s bowl loss to South Carolina.
Career stats: 7 for 10 (70%), 89 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions
Dec 5, 2020; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Jacolby Criswell (6) with the ball in the third quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Sophomore Jacolby Criswell was a four-star recruit in UNC’s 2020 class and has made three appearances in 2020 and four in 2021. Last season, Criswell made his first career start against Wofford and threw his first touchdown pass, connecting with Bryson Nesbit for a 47-yard touchdown.
Career stats: 16 for 25 (64%), 195 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
The Alabama native is a three-star recruit that committed to UNC as part of their 2022 recruiting class. Harrell enrolled early to get extra offseason work in with the team. Harrell was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association 7A Back of the Year in 2021 and was a first-team all-state and an all-county selection.
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 20: Drake Maye #10 of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks to the bench during the second half of their game against the Wofford Terriers at Kenan Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 34-14. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Projected starter: Drake Maye/Jacolby Criswell
Backup: Drake Maye/Jacolby Criswell
Depth: Conner Harrell, Jefferson Boaz, Russell Tabor
Nov 2, 2019; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown (right) takes the field prior to a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
The obvious question here is who will be the starter? But for this preview I’m going to ask if the starter will remain in that spot all season long?
There’s a chance that this race could be tight up until the week of Game 0 in Chapel Hill. If that’s the case, then we almost could see an approach where UNC uses both players until someone really emerges. That’s not ideal and you want one guy to really win the battle but there are cases in which that happens.
No matter who the starter is, the goal is for that player to play the entire year and play well. It means they are consistent and can hold down the spot while the other is the backup.
How long the leash is for the starter is a big storyline for the position. This is something to keep an eye on moving forward not only the next few weeks but during the season as well.
While the focus is on this season, UNC does need to keep some prospects in the pipeline at quarterback. Let’s just say Maye or Criswell play two years as a starter, UNC could be looking at a situation in 2024 or 2025 where they need a replacement. Let’s look at the pipeline below:
Jacolby Criswell (c/o 2020)
Drake Maye (c/o 2021)
Conner Harrell (c/o 2022)
Tad Hudson* (c/o 2023; 4-star)
Autoweek's Racing on TV Listings for August 8-14 | 2022-08-08T20:01:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | 2022 UNC Football Preview: Quarterback position | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-unc-football-preview-quarterback-113057971.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-unc-football-preview-quarterback-113057971.html?src=rss |
“If the good Lord took me out of here today, Clemson is built to last,” he said last December.
But despite Swinney’s assurance that the Clemson machine is still humming along, there is an unease around his program for the first time since it broke into the blue-blood club with the Tigers ranked No. 4 in the preseason the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll - its lowest starting position since 2017.
Syracuse defensive linemen Cody Roscoe and Steve Linton (17) combine to sack Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei during the first half at the Carrier Dome.
After missing the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2014, Clemson was forced into the biggest reset of Swinney’s tenure when defensive coordinator Brent Venables became Oklahoma’s head coach and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott got the head coaching job at Virginia. A handful of other people who had been crucial to Clemson’s two national titles followed them out the door, including defensive line coach Todd Bates and director of operations Thad Turnipseed. Clemson also lost athletic director Dan Radakovich to ACC rival Miami, promoting his deputy Graham Neff to the top job.
This is, in many ways, the norm at elite football programs where staff members are in high demand on the job market and thus constantly shuffling in and out. At Clemson, though, change has been pretty rare under Swinney.
Venables, arguably the top defensive coordinator in the country, stayed for a decade before Oklahoma finally lured him away. Elliott, who shared offensive coordinator duties with Jeff Scott until Scott left for South Florida in 2020, took the Virginia job after years of shunning opportunities to leave.
For a program that had been built on an unusual amount of continuity, Clemson was suddenly forced to navigate an offseason of immense change – and it had to do it on the heels of a 10-3 season when there was obvious on-field slippage from the Deshaun Watson/Trevor Lawrence era teams that could beat anyone in the country.
“It’s no different to me than when we lost Tajh Boyd and lost Sammy Watkins,” Swinney said, referring to two players who helped build Clemson’s foundation of success before it broke the national title ceiling in 2016. “You keep developing, keep growing, keep moving and getting better. I love continuity, but I also love change and new opportunity.”
Nobody bats an eye when Alabama loses a slew of assistants or Georgia shakes things up on the coaching staff. But Clemson’s staff had been so stable for so long, it feels like a major flash point in whatever the next decade is going to look like for Swinney. Is this a much-needed reset that can inject some fresh energy into Clemson, or is it a sign of trouble for a program on its way down?
Based on Swinney’s history, it’s foolish to bet against him.
“If people don’t believe in me after 13 years of what they’ve experienced at Clemson, they ain’t ever going to believe in me,” he says, citing seven ACC titles and 11 consecutive years of double-digit wins, things that hadn’t been done regularly since the 1980s.
But what Clemson achieved between 2015 and 2020, losing just seven games total over six seasons, undeniably set a new standard. And in 2021, that standard was not met as the Tigers fell out of national and ACC title contention by the middle of the season with losses to Georgia, North Carolina State and Pittsburgh.
Though Clemson played better in the back half of the season, knocking off nationally ranked Wake Forest and then beating Iowa State in the Cheez-It Bowl, it was not the year anyone envisioned when the Tigers started at No. 2 in the preseason poll.
Was their underperformance due to youth? Injuries? A drop in talent level? All three of those things could have played a factor, but the last one is the most interesting.
After a smooth transition from Watson to Lawrence at quarterback, former five-star recruit D.J. Uiagalelei struggled with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Will Shipley is a nice running back, but he’s not in the class of Travis Etienne, a two-time ACC player of the year. After a long run of game-changing wide receivers coming through Clemson, the well finally ran dry. last season.
HIGH TIDE: Alabama is No. 1 in preseason poll ahead of Ohio State, Georgia
DISCREPANCIES: Texas at No. 1 not the only crazy vote in the preseason poll
Though Clemson certainly got its share of talent, especially at quarterback, it did not build a monster program the same way Alabama or Georgia did by stacking top-ranked recruiting classes. The secret sauce for Clemson had always been about talent identification, cultural fit, development and maximizing the ability of the five-star recruits it did land.
But, of course, college football has changed quite a bit over the last couple of years with players being granted one free transfer and the ability to make money off their name, image and likeness. Swinney is both highly stubborn and an undeniable traditionalist who rails against the so-called professionalization of college football. He also shunned the transfer market as Clemson became a national power and has said he will only look to the portal as a last resort to fill a roster hole rather than trying to aggressively upgrade certain positions.
Swinney, of course, can build the program however he feels is best – and he’s earned enough credibility to do it his way. He deeply believes in his system and culture. But if Clemson can’t get back to the national championship level, how much will Swinney be blamed for his slowness in adapting to the new world of college football?
That’s what will be at stake in the next couple of seasons, and that’s why some fans were both disappointed and perplexed when Swinney – with all the Clemson cachet and a pile of money available for assistant coaches – went to the same playbook he’s used before.
Rather than send a message that things had gotten stale at Clemson and hunt big-name coaches, Swinney replaced Elliott with Brandon Streeter, who had been on staff as the quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator since 2014. He elevated Thomas Austin from analyst to offensive line coach to replace the retiring Robbie Caldwell. And on defense, he replaced Venables with Wes Goodwin and Mickey Conn, both in-house promotions.
This thought process is, in essence, what drives Swinney: Not just showing his way works but that the Clemson culture he created is just as interwoven with the Tigers’ success as the individuals who helped implement the X’s and O’s.
“I’ve always set the tone for what we do on offense and defense, and that’s never going to change,” he said. “We have a philosophy that’s been in place here for a long time and everything we do is within that philosophy.”
But for every long-running college football dynasty, there’s a fulcrum where greatness either multiplies or begins falling apart. Whether it’s coaching changes, rule changes, conference realignment or arrogance, you can always look back on some moment or series of events where a program went one direction or the other.
There hasn’t been this much change at Clemson since Swinney’s fourth season when the Tigers got embarrassed 70-33 by West Virginia in the Orange Bowl. After that, he brought in Venables to run the defense and Chad Morris to overhaul the offense, moves that pushed Clemson up the ladder until it finally reached the top.
More than a decade later, Swinney has arrived at another inflection point with different and perhaps trickier stakes. Clemson has been in the mix for national titles long enough now that it’s where fans and recruits think they belong. Whether Swinney can keep that going will be a direct reflection of the choices he’s made over the last 12 months.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clemson, Dabo Swinney poised for college football rebound in 2022 | 2022-08-08T20:01:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | Clemson confident in rebound season after finishing with lowest ranking since 2014 | https://sports.yahoo.com/clemson-confident-rebound-season-finishing-192157667.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/clemson-confident-rebound-season-finishing-192157667.html?src=rss |
With less than a month left until the start of the 2022 college football season, we finally have the preseason coaches poll, which was released on Monday.
A team with a lot of potential for the 2022 season, Clemson, if the season were to end before it started, the Tigers would be a playoff team as they squeezed past Notre Dame for the No.4 spot on the initial coaches poll.
Clemson appears to once again be the top contender out of the well-represented ACC, with NC State ranked No.13, Pittsburgh No.16, Miami (Fl.) No.17 and Wake Forest No.19. Another three ACC teams received votes.
Here’s a look at the full preseason AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports: | 2022-08-08T20:02:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Clemson is a playoff team in USA TODAY Sports preseason coaches poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/clemson-playoff-team-usa-today-165442130.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/clemson-playoff-team-usa-today-165442130.html?src=rss |
College football, to the joy of its fans, is back — Monday saw the release of the first USA Today coaching poll of the year, although Tigers fans won’t see their team listed among the 25 ranked squads.
Auburn received 98 votes but did not make the cut for the top 25. Its hated rival, Alabama, took the top spot with 54 first-place votes and the other half of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, Georgia, landed in third. Auburn’s 98 votes were third in the SEC among teams that didn’t make the cut, with Tennessee (163) and LSU (143) beating them out.
Check out the full preseason AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA Today down below:
Manchester United are pushing ahead with a surprise bid for Juventus’s Adrien Rabiot and are considering a move to finally sign Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as they attempt to rescue what has become a frustrating transfer window.
Matt Weiss didn't hold back when it comes to his thoughts on building relationships in recruiting. | 2022-08-08T20:02:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | First USA Today coaching poll sees Auburn receiving votes | https://sports.yahoo.com/first-usa-today-coaching-poll-192423933.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/first-usa-today-coaching-poll-192423933.html?src=rss |
Michigan State football will open the 2022 season ranked just a few spots outside the top 10.
The preseason USA TODAY Sports coaches poll was released on Monday, and the Spartans landed inside the top 15. Michigan State came in at No. 14, one spot behind North Carolina State and one spot ahead of USC.
Michigan State was one of four Big Ten teams to be ranked in the preseason poll. Ohio State was the highest ranked Big Ten squad at No. 2, with Michigan (No. 6) and Wisconsin (No. 20) being the other two ranked teams from the league. Iowa, Penn State, Minnesota and Purdue also received votes in the preseason poll.
Can transfer RB Jarek Broussard be MSU football's next Kenneth Walker III?
There may be an injury concern developing in New Orleans. Quarterback Jameis Winston left practice early on Monday with a foot injury. “Jameis went in today, he kind of tweaked his foot a little bit. He went in for some evaluation,” Allen said in his press conference. “I don’t have any update on that. But [more] | 2022-08-08T20:02:44Z | sports.yahoo.com | MSU football listed in top 15 of preseason USA TODAY Sports coaches poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/msu-football-listed-top-15-171308007.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/msu-football-listed-top-15-171308007.html?src=rss |
With teams flocking to their respective campuses for fall practices, the preseason coaches poll is finally here. The Oklahoma Sooners came in at No. 9 in the country in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
This year’s preseason ranking is good for best in the Big 12, right ahead of No. 10 Baylor and No. 11 Oklahoma State. The final team in the Big 12 to make the top 25 is Texas at No. 18.
In last season’s preseason poll, the Sooners came in at No. 3. Spencer Rattler was viewed as a Heisman favorite and was poised to lead the Sooners back to the College Football Playoff.
All but two of the top 25 are Power 5 teams, the exceptions being Cincinnati at No. 22 and Houston at No. 25. Those two programs will be joining the Big 12 after this season along with BYU and UCF.
Three of the four teams that made the CFP last year are in the top six. Alabama is at No. 1, Georgia is at No. 3, and Michigan is at No. 6.
USC is at to No. 15, which is a spot lower than they were a year ago. Two teams in the Pac-12 came in ahead of the Trojans, with Utah at No. 8 and Oregon at No. 12.
No. 9 feels like a good spot for the Sooners going into year one of the Brent Venables era. Both Baylor and Oklahoma State lost important pieces just like Oklahoma. The Sooners ahead of their Big 12 foes is a testament to Venables’ reputation. | 2022-08-08T20:02:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | Oklahoma Sooners ranked No. 9 in USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/oklahoma-sooners-ranked-no-9-170314158.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/oklahoma-sooners-ranked-no-9-170314158.html?src=rss |
Recently, David Hicks Jr. spoke to On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons, discussing his upcoming senior season, his recruiting timeline, and his current relationship with Texas A&M, who are still favorites according to the site at 60.2 %. After revealing that he plans to announce his destination at the Under Armour All-American Game, Hicks went on to explain the status of where he and the Texas A&M coaching staff presently stand: | 2022-08-08T20:03:16Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: 2023 Defensive lineman David Hicks Jr. states “nothing has changed” in relationship with Texas A&M | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-2023-defensive-lineman-david-184537270.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-2023-defensive-lineman-david-184537270.html?src=rss |
There’s always some sort of drama related to preseason college football rankings.
On Monday, it happened to center around the Texas Longhorns. USA TODAY Sports’ AFCA Coaches Poll was released and one head coach gave a first place vote to Texas.
Before you assume it was Steve Sarkisian voting for his own team, it wasn’t. Sarkisian’s name is not present on the list of voters. Fans will not get to see who voted the Longhorns No. 1 until the end of the season.
Aside from that, the poll looks fairly respectable with Texas landing at No. 18 and Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia owning the top three spots.
Here’s a full look at the preseason AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports. | 2022-08-08T20:03:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texas receives one first place vote in USA TODAY Sports’ top 25 coaches poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-receives-one-first-place-170406186.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-receives-one-first-place-170406186.html?src=rss |
With three weeks until the start of the 2022 college football season, the official preseason USA Today Coaches Poll was released on Monday afternoon. While not ranked, the UNC football program did receive some recognition.
The Tar Heels were slotted in the ‘others receiving votes’ category. Listed at No. 33 in the poll, UNC received 34 votes.
Louisville and Florida State were also two ACC programs to receive votes, albeit one a piece.
In total, the ACC had five teams in the top 25. Clemson (4), NC State (13), Pittsburgh (16), Miami (17) and Wake Forest (19) were the teams representing the ACC.
The Tar Heels enter the 2022 season with one big question mark. Who will be their quarterback? It is one of the bigger quarterback battles in college football just a few weeks away from week one. While UNC and Mack Brown return a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball and some skill position players offensively, with no Sam Howell under center, there are questions as to how successful they will be this season.
North Carolina was ranked preseason No. 9 last season and, while severely overrated, failed to meet those expectations. The Tar Heels finished last season 6-7 overall with a loss to South Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
UNC gets its season started on Aug. 27 against Florida A&M. | 2022-08-08T20:03:41Z | sports.yahoo.com | UNC receives votes in USA Today preseason Coaches Poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/unc-receives-votes-usa-today-165320500.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/unc-receives-votes-usa-today-165320500.html?src=rss |
The USC Trojans were ranked No. 15 in the preseason edition of the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
Some might view that as a surprise, others might view it as expected. Some might find the ranking too high, others too low.
What matters is that USC has to earn its place in college football. It won’t be handed to the Trojans on a silver platter. The Trojans need to take what’s out there. No one will roll out the red carpet for them and make this easy. It’s not supposed to be easy.
Notably, Utah and Oregon were ranked ahead of USC. The coaches think the Trojans won’t make the Pac-12 Championship Game this December in Las Vegas.
The coaches poll mirrors the Pac-12 media vote, which also had USC third behind Utah and Oregon.
Motivation? There should be no shortage of it for USC in 2022.
Here is the full poll: | 2022-08-08T20:03:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | USC football opens at No. 15 in USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-football-opens-no-15-181916738.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-football-opens-no-15-181916738.html?src=rss |
Per the report, Durant met with team owner Joseph Tsai over the weekend and told him to choose between himself and the pairing of head coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks. Durant doesn't have faith in the direction of the team, according to the report.
Durant previously requested a trade from the Nets in June following a tumultuous season that resulted in a first-round playoff sweep to the Boston Celtics. The Nets have reportedly set a substantial price for Durant on the trade market that thus far has not been met by interested teams.
Durant is entering the first year of a four-year, $198 million contract extension he signed with the Nets in 2021. He's signed through the 2025-26 season.
Steve Nash and Kevin Durant. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Durant, 33, is approaching his 16th NBA season and remains one of the game's elite offensive weapons. In 55 games last season, he averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists while shooting 51.8% from the field and 38.3% from 3-point distance. He's been limited in his return from an Achilles tendon tear that sidelined him for the 2019-20 season, with injuries restricting him to 90 regular-season games over the last two seasons in Brooklyn.
The Nets hired Nash in 2020 to lead the rebuild around Durant and Kyrie Irving, who both joined the franchise the previous season, Kenny Atkinson's last as head coach. The hiring arrived as a surprise around the NBA as Nash — a Hall of Fame point guard — had no prior head coaching experience when he took over a team built to compete for NBA championships. The Nets are 92-62 under Nash and haven't advanced beyond the Eastern Conference semifinals in his two seasons.
Marks took over as general manager in 2016 under previous owner Mikhail Prokhorov. He oversaw the acquisition of Durant and Irving. He also brokered the trade to acquire James Harden from the Houston Rockets and the subsequent deadline deal last season that sent Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons. Simmons did not play for Brooklyn last season amid myriad issues, including a lingering back injury.
Tumult has surrounded the Nets since their first-round playoff exit with Durant and Irving's status with the team moving forward unclear. Irving's refusal to meet New York's COVID-19 vaccine standards led him to be frequently sidelined and was partially blamed for derailing the Nets' season. Marks said after the season that he wants players who can "be available" while casting doubt over Irving's future with the team.
The Nets and Irving did not agree to a long-term extension before Irving eventually opted into a $36.9 million option for the upcoming season. He's slated to become a free agent in 2023. Meanwhile, Durant's trade request continues to hover over the short- and long-term future of the franchise. | 2022-08-08T20:11:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: Kevin Durant told Nets ownership to choose between him, Steve Nash-Sean Marks pairing | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-kevin-durant-told-nets-ownership-to-choose-between-him-steve-nash-sean-marks-pairing-184416153.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-kevin-durant-told-nets-ownership-to-choose-between-him-steve-nash-sean-marks-pairing-184416153.html?src=rss |
With the league interception leader playing opposite him, it can be difficult to stand out. But Cowboys veteran cornerback Anthony Brown has definitely gotten the attention of head coach Mike McCarthy.
And McCarthy would like to see Brown get a little more respect from those outside the building.
“Best camp that I’ve been a part of, absolutely,” the coach confirmed. “He’s talented. He plays the right way. He’s definitely a lot more comfortable in our scheme, which I think our whole defense is. I think you can see it in how they’re flying around. The communication on defense has been excellent so far, and we want to build off it today. We’re off to a really good start, and A.B.’s a big part of that.”
Some of that is sheer talent. Some of it comes from six years of NFL experience. But a huge part of Brown’s camp development is a result of simply returning to the fold for a second straight season under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr.
“Continuity is good,” Whitt has said, per the team website. “We’re not re-teaching a lot of the concepts. I talk about undergrad and graduate levels. Most of the guys that are playing right now are graduate level; now can we step it up and get that Ph.D.?”
Entering his seventh year of study, Brown- who’s switched his jersey from No. 30 to No. 3 this year- is right on track to earn that advanced degree, even if he bombed a pretty major pop quiz last Thanksgiving.
“I just see a very, very consistent player from last year. He had the one game against Vegas,” McCarthy admitted. “If you had heard the conversations with the officials that we talk about- not that you can go back and change calls or anything, and we’re not complaining- it was good stuff.”
Outside of the Raiders game, Brown was flagged just one other time in all of 2021. So the reputation is, in fact, unwarranted. C.J. Goodwin had more penalties than Brown. So did Micah Parsons. And Randy Gregory. Trevon Diggs racked up twice as many.
To that end, Brown and all the Cowboys have gotten some extra time this offseason working with NFL officials at their own practice sessions. The refs are getting reps, yes, but the players are also able to get a better handle on how things will be called once the season begins.
Defensive pass interference has been a particular point of emphasis.
“Every year we’re talking about that as a league and how that’s officiated better,” McCarthy offered.
“I thought [NFL referee] Brad Allen did a nice job speaking in the team meeting, but also in our individual meetings. But we were able to take a dozen throws- all of these contested catches that we’ve had out here- and talk them through,” he continued. “I tell guys we all know the rules, and they know the rules, too. But what you see in this league is it’s not only which rules they’re going to emphasize more than others, but exactly how they’re going to emphasize them.
“They want to regulate the competition. They don’t really want to officiate it. And I think there’s a difference.”
Which begs the question: if Brown had not drawn four flags last Thanksgiving Day, how would Cowboys fans feel about him? With his contributions to the stat sheet still overshadowed by Diggs and his 11 interceptions, would Brown be any less underappreciated?
It’s hard to say for sure. Maybe 2022 will reveal that answer.
Brown himself went on record to lay out some sizable goals for himself this season.
“This year, I want to have more interceptions, All-Pro, Pro Bowl. Give up less yards, less penalties, less big plays. YAC, yards after catch. That’s my main thing: I want to have a clean season,” he said in a radio interview. “It’s not about having all the interceptions and everything. I just want to have a clean season overall. Tackles, everything.”
But even if he does all of those things, given the mega-watt star power all around him in the Dallas defensive huddle, Brown may find himself still flying under the collective radar, through no fault of his own.
“I’ve been here going on seven years now,” Brown told the Dallas Morning News on the topic. “I’m used to it. I’m immune to it now.” | 2022-08-08T20:15:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | Boosting Brown: McCarthy says Cowboys CB ‘should get more love’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/boosting-brown-mccarthy-says-cowboys-183015953.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/boosting-brown-mccarthy-says-cowboys-183015953.html?src=rss |
“I would say the difference is, and I can speak just for the defensive side, obviously, feel wise, there’s an energy about this team,” Barton told reporters after Sunday’s walkthrough. “I’m sure you guys have heard it already. The energy throughout the team, and especially on defense, is just different. Guys are excited, guys are hungry, and we just want to compete, and go out there and just prove ourselves.”
Barton is now entering his fourth season in the league, originally selected by the Seahawks in the 2019 NFL draft out of Utah. He is also embracing a much larger role on the field, having grown from mostly special teams to a starting spot with the linebackers. He sees the overall changes in the team as well.
“If you look at the game, imagine it’s like a puzzle, all the pieces have to fit together,” Barton explained. “The D-line has to work with the linebackers, the linebackers have to work with the DBs, so it’s all going to work together. I wouldn’t say there’s just one focal point, I would say it’s just a whole defensive thing.”
The Seahawks return to the practice field on Tuesday to begin to prepare to face the Steelers on Saturday, Aug. 13.
ROUND ROCK, Texas, Aug. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TSS, Inc. (Other OTC: TSSI), a data center and mission critical facilities and technology services company, will report financial results for its second quarter 2022 on Monday August 15th, 2022. The Company will conduct a conference call at 4.30 p.m. eastern time that day. To participate on the conference call, please dial 1-866-374-5140 toll free from the U.S., or 1-404-400-0571 for international callers. The PIN # is 66889454#. The event ID
A Celebrity Trainer Coached His Neighbors Through a Superhero Transformation Program
Kevin Durant requested a change in leadership or a trade from Brooklyn in a meeting with Nets owner Joe Tsai according to a new report. | 2022-08-08T20:15:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | Cody Barton sees puzzle pieces fitting together for Seahawks defense | https://sports.yahoo.com/cody-barton-sees-puzzle-pieces-193704837.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cody-barton-sees-puzzle-pieces-193704837.html?src=rss |
The Cowboys have announced their practice schedule for the at-home portion of 2022’s training camp, including two opportunities for fans to attend sessions held at The Star in Frisco.
Following their Oxnard stay and road trips to Denver and Los Angeles, Calif., the team will return to the Metroplex to close out training camp. Practices inside the Ford Center on Aug. 23-24 will be open to the public and free to attend, with both sessions beginning at 6 p.m. Central.
The first practice, on Tuesday of that week, will be preceded by “Cowboys Night” festivities starting at 4 p.m. on the Tostitos Championship Plaza. Doors to the indoor practice facility will open at 4:45, and an opening ceremony will begin at 5:15 with remarks from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
There will be one additional opportunity that same week to see the squad in action before the start of the regular season. The Cowboys will host the Seattle Seahawks in their third and final preseason game of 2022 on Friday, Aug. 26. Kickoff will be 7 p.m. at AT&T Stadium.
Dallas opens the 2022 season at home versus Tampa Bay on Sunday, Sept. 11.
East Tennessee State hired Brenda Mock Brown as the Buccaneers' new women's basketball coach, one week after Simon Harris was fired over Title IX issues. | 2022-08-08T20:15:22Z | sports.yahoo.com | Cowboys announce 2 Frisco practices open to public | https://sports.yahoo.com/cowboys-announce-2-frisco-practices-193134138.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cowboys-announce-2-frisco-practices-193134138.html?src=rss |
Deebo bringing heightened energy to Aiyuk, 49ers offense originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA — There has been a noticeable bump up in energy at 49ers training camp since wide receiver Deebo Samuel’s contract extension was finalized.
Brandon Aiyuk has been Trey Lance’s favorite target throughout the first 10 practices of camp, but Samuel’s return to the field has been felt by all. Aiyuk believes that his teammate brings a unique element to the team both on and off the field.
“Deebo is like an enforcer,” Aiyuk said on Sunday. “Everybody knows that when Deebo is out on the field you can feel a different energy. He was that guy during the season to give us a physical, or any type of play to get us going.”
Samuel has been mixed into the lineup slowly after missing the first four practices of training camp, but while not involved in the play on the field, it has been business as usual for the “wide-back.” Samuel is regularly seen chatting up teammates and coaches alike.
For the first few practices of Samuel’s return, he appeared with the second team while Nate Sudfeld was under center. By the weekend Samuel was back with the ones on a rotational basis.
Coach Kyle Shanahan is not concerned with Samuel and Lance’s ability to build chemistry on the field after the receiver missed team drills during OTAs and mandatory minicamp. The two players worked on deep throws Saturday after practice had ended and seemed to connect without issues.
“We’ve eased him in with him having a late start,” Shanahan said on Saturday. “He’s just starting to get up to normal practice, I think it’ll be here in the next couple of days, but it’ll come. And I didn’t know they worked after, I liked that they do that.”
Aiyuk is happy to have Samuel back on the field. The two have quickly returned to their normal level of closeness including arriving and leaving the practice field together on scooters.
“Just having him back out there it feels like we are complete again and we're ready to play and start building,” Aiyuk said.
The 49ers have rest day on Monday. The team will return to open practice on Tuesday and Wednesday in preparation for their first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at 5:30 p.m. PST Friday night. | 2022-08-08T20:15:41Z | sports.yahoo.com | Deebo Samuel bringing heightened energy to Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers offense | https://sports.yahoo.com/deebo-samuel-bringing-heightened-energy-184422789.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/deebo-samuel-bringing-heightened-energy-184422789.html?src=rss |
His football future looks a lot different heading into Year 3 of his NFL career than it did heading into Year 3 of his college career.
Tagovailoa’s first two seasons with the Dolphins haven’t been that promising. This offseason, Miami remade his support system by trading for wide receiver Tyreek Hill, signing offensive lineman Terron Armstead and hiring head coach Mike McDaniel, a Kyle Shanahan disciple.
So now, Tagovailoa has reached a tipping point. He’s an unquestioned NFL starter, but the body of work has prompted questions instead of reassurances.
Dolphins, teammates signal Tua Tagovailoa is entering now-or-never season
While Tagovailoa’s starter status is cemented now, his position under center looked tenuous all of last year. The Dolphins still have plenty of escape hatches if he doesn’t take a major step forward this season.
They reportedly tried to lure a couple of big-name quarterbacks to Miami, whether courting Deshaun Watson throughout the 2021 season or tampering with Tom Brady as far back as 2019, for which the NFL just punished them.
Then there’s the 2023 draft class, which is loaded at the top with quarterbacks like Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Despite losing a first-round pick in the Brady tampering investigation, the Dolphins still own the San Francisco 49ers’ first-rounder after the Trey Lance trade two years ago.
Even Hill, an unabashed Tagovailoa supporter, agreed that this is likely the final year for Tagovailoa to prove whether or not he can make it in the NFL
“You know, in the NFL they only give you like two or three years to be a successful quarterback, especially if you’re a first-round draft pick,” Hill said on his podcast this offseason. “And if you don’t succeed after those years, then it’s ‘kick rocks, man.’So, basically, they’re going to put Tua into that. So this is basically his last year, man, just to show people what he’s got.”
How the NFL views Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa is entering a prove-it Year 3 in his Miami Dolphins career. (Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports)
After two years in the league, it’s hard to tell if Tagovailoa is trending upward or plateauing.
He didn’t enjoy a very successful rookie season, finding himself in and out of the lineup behind veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. Then last season, he missed four games due to a rib injury and ranked 18th in Football Outsiders’ Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement (DYAR) metric. Tagovailoa completed 67.8 percent of his passes but threw for 2,6543 yards, a little over 200 per game, with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
His former college teammate, Jalen Hurts, who was drafted 48 spots later and posted a similar TD-to-INT ratio last season, is entering a prove-it campaign of his own. Hurts did make the playoffs last season with the Philadelphia Eagles though, and plays the role of a more modern dual-threat rushing quarterback, while Tagovailoa has proved to be a prototypical pocket passer.
NFL coaches appear to be more bullish on Hurts than Tagovailoa. According to Mike Sando of The Athletic, who asked 50 NFL coaches and executives to place each starting quarterback in tiers, Hurts was assigned Tier 3 status compared to Tagovailoa, who was put in Tier 4.
“(Tagovailoa) is being set up for success with a running game, defense, offensive line and then obviously the impact players at the skill positions,” an offensive coach said. “If there is ever a time for him to be successful, it is this season. What is success? Staying healthy all year and leading his team to the playoffs.”
“He’s a guy that I’m still holding on to the edge of my chair when I’m watching him play,” a quarterbacks coach added. “I am still cheering for him and I’m just hoping it doesn’t implode. Having Tyreek Hill and Terron Armstead and all the talent they have, there’s no excuses any more. He’s got to get it done.”
What’s in store for Tagovailoa in 2022?
Tagovailoa’s main issue is with the perception of his arm strength, especially after the Dolphins’ social media team seemingly heard the noise and tweeted a video of him throwing a questionable deep ball in May. Despite the misgivings, Tagovailoa actually had the third-highest DVOA of any quarterback last season on passes 20-plus yards downfield — albeit on only 30 such attempts.
That number will likely grow with Hill, the NFL’s best deep-ball threat, added to an offense that already includes record-setting second-year receiver Jaylen Waddle. It speaks to a broader question of how the Dolphins under McDaniel will utilize Tagovailoa. The new head coach has promised to bring the 49ers’ zone run scheme to Miami — which flexed out its running back depth chart this offseason by adding Raheem Mostert, Sony Michel and Chase Edmonds — and has relied on things like tempo and quick passes in the past.
So it appears McDaniel will try to help mask whatever deep-ball deficiencies Tagovailoa may have with creative schematics. What comes next, though, is entirely up to Tagovailoa.
As Hill noted, a quarterback’s third season is typically their make-or-break year. Just look at two members of the 2018 class, Josh Allen and Sam Darnold. Both were viewed similarly heading into their third season in 2020, and Darnold even held a few per-game statistical advantages over Allen.
But Allen took an enormous leap in Year 3 after the Buffalo Bills traded for receiver Stefon Diggs, while Darnold floundered on the New York Jets during his second season with Adam Gase and was traded to the Carolina Panthers the following offseason.
That’s an example of the different possible trajectories for Tagovailoa. But at the very least, the narrative around him has flipped since college. Now he’s out to prove he can reach his once-promised level in 2022. | 2022-08-08T20:16:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | It's now or never for Tua Tagovailoa in Miami after this Dolphins offseason | https://sports.yahoo.com/its-now-or-never-for-tua-tagovailoa-in-miami-after-this-dolphins-offseason-193946401.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/its-now-or-never-for-tua-tagovailoa-in-miami-after-this-dolphins-offseason-193946401.html?src=rss |
The best kicker in football history just got paid.
The Baltimore Ravens have locked up kicker Justin Tucker to a brand new deal.
ESPN reports Tucker has signed a four-year, $24 million extension with $17.5 million guaranteed to remain in Baltimore for the near future. The deal makes Tucker the highest-paid kicker in NFL history.
The five-time All-Pro is the most accurate kicker in league history. Tucker has hit 91% of his field goals in his 10-year professional career.
He has come through in the clutch time after time for the Ravens with 18 career game-winning field goals. The most exciting of them came during Week 3 of last season.
Tucker set the NFL record 66-yard game-winning field goal last season against the Detroit Lions. Breaking the previous record of 64-yards set by Matt Prater.
Bag secured 💰
Justin Tucker is now the highest paid kicker in #NFL history. #RavensFlock
More: https://t.co/8cbrwTQQxF pic.twitter.com/pajxgMo4bN | 2022-08-08T20:16:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | Justin Tucker inks $24 million extension with the Ravens | https://sports.yahoo.com/justin-tucker-inks-24-million-193820991.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/justin-tucker-inks-24-million-193820991.html?src=rss |
Every NFL season, there's one team that has their season absolutely destroyed by injuries. Last season, that team was the Baltimore Ravens. They lost J.K. Dobbins, Marcus Peters and Gus Edwards for the year before the season even started. Despite that, they began the season with an 8-3 record. However, injuries continued to mount with the team often having near 15 players on the injury report any given week. They lost Marlon Humphrey and most importantly Lamar Jackson to major injuries down the stretch. It became too much for the Ravens to overcome, and they finished the season on a six game losing streak and missed the playoffs.
On the bright side for the Ravens, those teams that are decimated by injuries are usually good bets to bounce back the next season. In 2020, the San Francisco 49ers season was ruined by injuries. Healthier in 2021, the 49ers bounced back. They won 10 games, made the playoffs and made a run to the NFC championship game. The Ravens hope a similar bounce-back is in store for them.
The expectations are there for the Ravens. They've been consistently competitive under John Harbaugh. Since Lamar Jackson took over the starting job in 2018, they've been consistently excellent for the most part. That's one of the main reasons why Yahoo's Frank Schwab ranked the Ravens seventh in his preseason power rankings. The betting market seems to agree that the Ravens will be vastly improved from last season.
Baltimore favored to win AFC North
Don't be fooled by the Baltimore Ravens' record to finish last season. Sure, 8-9 is not a great record, but serious context is needed. The Ravens were 8-3 through Week 12. They were a serious contender for the No. 1 seed in the AFC and looked like they were going to win the AFC North. Baltimore then lost quarterback Lamar Jackson to injury in Week 14 and proceeded to end the season on a 6-game losing streak.
This upcoming season, the Ravens' preseason win total is set at 9.5 wins. This is a team that won 14 games in 2019 and 11 games in 2020. Remember, those seasons only had 16 games. They were on pace for 12-13 wins last season before the late season implosion. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that 90% of bets and 95% of the money is backing Baltimore to go over 9.5 wins.
The Ravens are -165 favorites to make the playoffs. At those odds, it's suggested they make the playoffs over 62% of the time. Last season was the first time in Lamar Jackson's career that the Ravens did not make the playoffs. Overall, in 14 seasons under John Harbaugh, the Ravens have made the playoffs nine times.
The simplest path to making the playoffs for the Ravens would be to win the AFC North. The Ravens are the current betting favorites to win the division at +160. Almost 52% of the betting handle so far has backed Baltimore to win the division. The next closest team in betting handle is the Bengals, who are receiving just 30% of the money.
Baltimore is a -275 favorite to finish top-2 in the division. According to the betting odds, the most likely teams to finish in the top two are the Ravens and the Bengals. Those teams occupying the top two spots pays out at +145. The Ravens finished last season in last place in the division. If for some reason, you expect that to happen again, the Ravens are +800 to finish in the basement of the AFC North.
The Ravens are 16-to-1 to finish the regular season with the most wins in the league. Those are tied for the seventh best odds with the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. Baltimore had the best record in the league in 2019.
Baltimore is +750 to finish the regular season as the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Those odds are tied for third best with the Broncos. Only the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs have better odds.
Are the Ravens a good value Super Bowl bet?
The Baltimore Ravens enter the 2022 season with 20-to-1 odds to win the Super Bowl. Those odds are tied for the 10th best with the Cincinnati Bengals. Those odds are just behind the Dallas Cowboys and slightly ahead of the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts.
At this price, Baltimore is certainly an appealing value bet to win the Super Bowl. Baltimore has shown their ability to be one of the league's best teams during the regular season. Of course, the question with Baltimore will remain their ability to win in the playoffs with Lamar Jackson under center. He's just 1-3 as a starter in the playoffs and until he can string together a deep playoff run, the questions will remain, no matter how unfair they might be.
Baltimore is 11-to-1 to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Those odds are tied for fifth best with the Bengals. Buffalo, Kansas City, Los Angeles and Denver are the four teams in the AFC with better odds than the Ravens.
Ravens player props and awards
In 2019, Lamar Jackson won NFL MVP and John Harbaugh won coach of the year. Can history repeat itself in 2022?
Lamar Jackson enters the 2022 NFL season with 20-to-1 odds to win MVP. Those are the 10th best odds in the NFL, right behind Matthew Stafford and Russell Wilson. Jackson is just ahead of Kyler Murray in the betting odds. Jackson won NFL MVP unanimously in 2019 and has the type of flashy game-breaking talent to always make him an appealing bet. A Jackson MVP and Ravens to win the AFC North parlay pays 35-to-1. Those are obviously correlated and could be a fun way to increase the payout.
However, the betting market isn't huge on Jackson's arm. He's 50-to-1 to lead the league in passing yards this upcoming season. Those odds are tied for 20th best with Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield and Carson Wentz. Jackson is 40-to-1 to lead the NFL in passing touchdowns. Those odds are tied for 13th best with Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray. A lot of Jackson's value comes from his legs. He's 40-to-1 to lead the NFL in rushing yards. Those odds are 19th best and tied with running backs like Miles Sanders, Josh Jacobs and Aaron Jones.
Jackson's passing yards prop for this upcoming season is set at 3549.5 passing yards. He has never gone over this number in his career, though he was on pace for over 4000 passing yards last season before his injury. His over/under for passing touchdowns is set at 24.5 touchdowns. He went over this number in his first two full seasons, but was on pace for just 23 last year. Jackson's over/under for interceptions is set at 12.5 picks. He had 13 in just 12 games last season, but threw single digit interceptions in his first three seasons.
On the ground, Jackson's rushing prop is set at 849.5 rushing yards. He went over 1000 yards on the ground in his first two seasons and was on pace for nearly 1100 last season but had just 767 due to injury. His rushing touchdowns number is set at 6.5 scores. He had just two last season, but had seven in 2019 and 2020.
Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are a team with some betting value ahead of the NFL season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Mark Andrews is 25-to-1 to lead the NFL in receiving this upcoming season. Those odds are tied for 10th best with D.J. Moore and Deebo Samuel. Andrews finished 6th in receiving yards last season. He's also 25-to-1 to lead the NFL in receptions. Again, those odds are tied for 10th best with the likes of Jaylen Waddle and Diontae Johnson. Andrews finished 5th in receptions last season.
Andrews' props for the upcoming season are set at 83.5 receptions, 1049.5 receiving yards and 8.5 receiving touchdowns. Last season, he went over all of these numbers with 107 receptions, 1361 receiving yards and 9 scores.
J.K. Dobbins missed his entire sophomore season due to injury, but he was considered one of the top young running backs in the league before his injury. Dobbins' availability for the season opener isn't certain, but he's making good progress in his return from injury. He's 30-to-1 to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Those odds are tied for 13th best with Chris Godwin.
Dobbins is 30-to-1 to lead the NFL in rushing yards. Those odds are tied for 13th best with Austin Ekeler, Devin Singletary and Leonard Fournette. He's 25-to-1 to lead the league in rushing touchdowns. Those odds are tied for 10th best with five other running backs including Ezekiel Elliott and Javonte Williams.
Other Ravens players
Kyle Hamilton is 10-to-1 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. The safety out of Notre Dame has the fourth best odds to win the award behind Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Travon Walker.
It was a less than ideal rookie season for wide receiver Rashod Bateman. He posted 46 receptions, 515 receiving yards and and one touchdown. However, with a healthier season for Bateman, a healthier season for his quarterback and the departure of Marquise Brown, big things are expected for Bateman in his sophomore season. His props for the upcoming season are set at 71.5 receptions, 849.5 receiving yards and 5.5 receiving touchdowns.
Marcus Peters is 50-to-1 to win Comeback Player of the Year after missing all of last season with an injury.
Matthew Judon is 66-to-1 to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Judon is 25-to-1 to lead the NFL in sacks. Those are the 14th best odds, tied with four others including Von Miller. Judon finished seventh in sacks last season with 12.5.
John Harbaugh is 25-to-1 to win NFL Coach of the Year. Those odds are 14th best, tied with five others including Robert Saleh and Dennis Allen. Harbaugh won the award in 2019.
Ravens favored in Week 1
The Baltimore Ravens open their 2022 season with a trip to northern New Jersey to visit the New York Jets. The Ravens are currently 5.5-point road favorites as oddsmakers expect them to open the season with a win. Baltimore is a -250 favorite on the moneyline, odds that imply they win the game nearly 72% of the time.
The Jets have received some hype this offseason after adding four marquee names in the first two rounds of the draft. It's certainly a young team with potential, but if things go according to plan, these teams aren't in the same vicinity when it comes to expected results.
A bunch of important Ravens are still on the PUP list, so I'd wait until closer to game time to place a bet to make sure they're not missing too many key players. With that being said, if Baltimore is healthy they should take care of business against a team that oddsmakers project as one of the worst teams in the league. | 2022-08-08T20:16:44Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL futures, odds: Baltimore Ravens look to rebound from frustrating 2021 season | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-futures-odds-baltimore-ravens-look-to-rebound-from-frustrating-2021-season-192058620.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-futures-odds-baltimore-ravens-look-to-rebound-from-frustrating-2021-season-192058620.html?src=rss |
By now you may have heard that the Los Angeles Rams don’t really build through the draft. Instead, they trade draft picks for proven, veteran players who can contribute right away.
The result of that strategy? An older roster than most teams.
ESPN recently ranked every team by its under-25 talent and as you probably guessed, the Rams weren’t anywhere close to the top. In fact, they were last at No. 32.
ESPN wrote that the Rams have no blue-chip players under the age of 25, and their notable players who graduated from the under-25 club are Darrell Henderson Jr. and David Edwards. Henderson is still just 24, but he turns 25 on Aug. 19, and Edwards just turned 25 in March.
Ranking last on this list isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though.
The Rams are a team built to win now thanks to players such as Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Leonard Floyd, Allen Robinson and Bobby Wagner. None of those players are even under 27 years old, but it’s thanks to Stafford, Kupp, Donald and Ramsey that the Rams won the Super Bowl in February.
Of course, they aren’t the only ones who helped the team hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Andrew Whitworth, Darious Williams, Greg Gaines, A’Shawn Robinson, Nick Scott, Sony Michel and Van Jefferson all played parts in that championship run, too.
As star-heavy as the Rams’ roster is, it’s the lesser-known players who make a major difference, too.
Without first- and second-round draft picks in 2022 and without first-, fourth- and fifth-round picks in 2023, the Rams might spend a few seasons in the under-25 basement. But as long as Aaron Donald doesn’t retire, expect to see a veteran Rams roster in several more January games.
The Rams’ primary contributors under 25 are Ernest Jones, Cam Akers, Jordan Fuller, David Long Jr., Taylor Rapp and Robert Rochell. That’s about it. But they’re banking on guys like Derion Kendrick, Tutu Atwell, Bobby Brown III, Logan Bruss, Terrell Lewis, Cobie Durant and Chris Garrett to step up as key players in a season or two.
That’s how the Rams get away with acquiring all the big-name stars they do. Their younger players eventually rise up the depth chart and take on key roles, even if they’re not first- or second-round draft picks.
There may not be a team better positioned to win the Super Bowl this season, and it’s because the Rams have traded youth for talent. | 2022-08-08T20:17:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | Rams rank last in under-25 talent, but that’s not necessarily a problem | https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-rank-last-under-25-183013660.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-rank-last-under-25-183013660.html?src=rss |
One of the greatest defensive linemen in New England Patriots’ franchise history, Vince Wilfork, is set to be immortalized as a member of the franchise’s personal Hall of Fame.
The announcement of the Patriot legend’s entry was made back in May. But on Monday, the team released more details surrounding the upcoming induction ceremony.
The ceremony is slated to take place on Saturday, September 24 at the Enel Plaza at Gillette Stadium at 4 p.m. ET. Following the induction, the Patriots will also pay tribute to Wilfork that Sunday during halftime of their Week 3 regular season game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Wilfork spent 11 seasons with the Patriots after being drafted by the team with the No. 21 overall pick of the 2004 NFL draft. He’s had a stellar NFL career with two Super Bowl wins, multiple All-Pro nods and five Pro Bowl selections.
This will be the 32nd inductee into the Patriots Hall of Fame, and considering what Wilfork meant to the team and greater community, it should be a memorable one. | 2022-08-08T20:17:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Vince Wilfork Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony gets date | https://sports.yahoo.com/vince-wilfork-patriots-hall-fame-200051344.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/vince-wilfork-patriots-hall-fame-200051344.html?src=rss |
The Los Angeles Sparks did not have a fun Sunday night.
Half of the team was forced to sleep overnight in the airport following the Sparks' 79-76 win over the Washington Mystics after their flight back to Los Angeles was delayed, then canceled at 1 a.m. and rescheduled for a new flight that wouldn't leave until 9 a.m.
"It's the first time in my 11 seasons that I've ever had to sleep in the airport," Sparks star and WNBA president Nneka Ogwumike explained in a Twitter video. "But based on travel, it's not expected that this has happened. It was only a matter of time. So, half of sleeping in the airport. Half of us are at a hotel. There weren't enough rooms. "
No one likes sleeping in an airport, but it's even worse for a team on the cusp of a playoff berth. At Sparks 13-20, the Sparks are competing against four other teams for the seventh and eighth spots in the WNBA playoffs. And with three games left in the schedule, every match matters. Now, they'll only have a little more than a day to get ready for a two-game home stretch against the Connecticut Sun that begins Tuesday night.
Sparks assistant coach Latricia Trammell highlighted just how bad the team's sleeping conditions would be as it waited for the flight this morning:
Other Sparks players had fun with their misfortune:
wouldn’t be right if we didn’t end our last road trip with a canceled flight back to LA. pic.twitter.com/05tMah8ML1
we had a Rock Paper Scissors tournament. https://t.co/5UihSyKEpT
Travel issues not new for WNBA
As Ogwumike noted, it was only a matter of time before she had to sleep in an airport while waiting for a rescheduled flight. It's sadly only the most recent example in a long list of travel-related issues WNBA teams and players have endured relative to their NBA counterparts over the years.
Almost exactly four years ago to the day, the Las Vegas Aces forfeited their game against the Mystics because players were concerned about their health and safety after it took them 26 hours to travel due to flight delays and cancellations. The team arrived four hours before their game was scheduled to start, and after speaking with the player's union and the league about their decision not to play, the WNBA ruled the game must be forfeited – the first result in WNBA history.
Things haven't gotten better since then. In 2022 alone, though, travel has caused upheaval for most WNBA teams.
Las Vegas Aces Kelsey Plum said flight delays played a role in the team's loss to Mystics in mid-May. Plum even joked later this season that her toughest opponents are the airlines.
The Connecticut Sun had to cancel their practice and media availability on May 23 after delays forced them to take an early-morning flight following their win over the Fever the day before. The Chicago Sky, like the Sparks on Sunday night, were forced to sleep in the airport between their game in Washington and their game at home against the Indiana Fever in late May.
🎥: Azurá Stevens/Instagram pic.twitter.com/gALG15JwiZ
— Khristina Williams (@Khristina) May 23, 2022
There have been multiple instances where teams travel the day of games, particularly during stretches of back-to-back matches or three games in four days.
Minnesota Lynx Forward Natalie Achonwa recounted how her team endured a ridiculous travel schedule that included three games in four days – the last of which included a canceled flight to Washington for a mid-afternoon game.
WNBA player Natalie Achonwa describes travel issues pic.twitter.com/Wd24I0tKcN
— Rain | Media | Publicist🇱🇷 (@BloggedByRain) July 17, 2022
After arriving in Washington, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said it was "challenging and disappointing" to deal with the travel issues and that the "greater disappointment was the lack of support that we felt in terms of unresponsive messages to the league."
Phoenix Mercury star Skylar Diggins-Smith tweeted in June how flying the same day as games doesn't sit well with her because of health and security reasons.
"Back to back [sic] away games should never be scheduled, considering we fly commercial (with no security)," Diggins-Smith tweeted in June. "The W wants quality/high level basketball, but doesn’t (seem to) value quality of life for the players."
COVID-19 travel concerns
Traveling commercial as opposed to charter also exposed WNBA players to COVID-19 throughout the pandemic. Mystics guard Natasha Cloud called out the WNBA after she became the first player to enter the league's health and safety protocols. Seattle Storm star Breanna Stewart did the same soon after when she was also added to the procotols.
Shoutout to the @WNBA for flying us commercial during a pandemic. (And no mask mandates) Go mystics🗣 https://t.co/UxEQ8ybrls
— Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) May 10, 2022
Cost to charter WNBA players
Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like private flights are coming to the WNBA regular season anytime soon.
While the league did announce it would use charter flights for all WNBA Finals games, commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in March that it would cost more than $20 million each season to charter every team throughout the season. That added cost would, as Engelbert puts it, "jeopardize the financial health of the league." And when New York Liberty owner Joe Tsai reportedly paid to charter a private plane for his team, the league fined the Liberty $500,000 for violating the league's collective bargaining agreement.
The Sparks' travel nightmare is certainly another example the players can use when the league's current CBA expires ... in 2028.
The Los Angeles Sparks endured what has been too common of a travel nightmare in the WNBA. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) | 2022-08-08T20:49:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Los Angeles Sparks forced to sleep in airport after canceled flight | https://sports.yahoo.com/los-angeles-sparks-forced-to-sleep-in-airport-after-canceled-flight-145834527.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/los-angeles-sparks-forced-to-sleep-in-airport-after-canceled-flight-145834527.html?src=rss |
2022 WNBA Playoffs: Qualified teams, playoff format, timeline and more 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur: How to watch, who’s playing at Chambers... NCAA women’s basketball tournament to feature two regional sites for 2023
The words that sparked Natasha Cloud’s social justice fight? ‘We need your help’ originally appeared on NBCSports.com
Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks with the media as two life sentences were given to Travis and Gregory McMichael, who were convicted of killing Ahmaud Arbery. | 2022-08-08T20:50:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | The words that sparked Natasha Cloud’s social justice fight? ‘We need your help’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/words-sparked-natasha-cloud-social-181720804.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/words-sparked-natasha-cloud-social-181720804.html?src=rss |
NFL training camps are the source of excitement, hope and optimism across the country. They represent the fact that football is on the horizon. Every team has multiple writers and reporters out at training camp every day, tweeting and recording everything that's happening. As football-starved fans, we eat it up. We're trying to find out which players are breaking out, which teams look exciting and are trying to get a leg up for betting and fantasy purposes. There's no denying it's fun, but for that reason it could also be dangerous.
For every young player who breaks out in training camp and goes on to have a good season, there's another player who dazzles in camp but is a total non-factor when the games begin to matter. I remember Darwin Thompson's training camp hype in 2019. Fantasy football analysts and Chiefs reporters thought he might win the starting job in Kansas City's backfield. Instead, he ran for a grand total of 128 yards on the season, only eclipsing 20 yards in two games.
You have to be measured when analyzing camp standouts. You don't want to be burned by being overzealous, but you also don't want to be late to the party on something. With training camps just about two weeks old now, there's one name that seems to be all the buzz across the league right now. Romeo Doubs has been getting great reviews out of Green Bay and the betting market seems to think there might be something to it.
Doubs was a Day 3 pick
Entering the NFL draft, we knew the Green Bay Packers needed to draft a wide receiver after they traded Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. They surprised most people when they didn't use one of their two first-round picks to select a replacement for Adams. They did end up drafting Christian Watson in the second round. Watson is not the rookie receiver getting all of the attention in Packers camp though.
That honor belongs to Romeo Doubs, the Packers' fourth-round draft pick out of Nevada. In 2021, Doubs caught 80 passes for 1,109 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns for the Wolf Pack. However, he dropped to the fourth round in the draft. Nevada isn't a big school, there were questions about his route-running abilities and that he didn't face overly tough competition in college.
Doubs was a 100-to-1 long-shot to win NFL offensive rookie of the year prior to training camp. He projected to be further down the depth chart, serving as a backup with some special team responsibilities. Watson was the rookie who many expected to make an immediate impact, as he was one of the favorites to win offensive rookie of the year at +850.
Doubs has impressed in camp
Aaron Rodgers doesn't hand out compliments to rookies very easily. Therefore, when he speaks, people listen. Rodgers has often been accused of not trusting young receivers, but it seems like he's been impressed by what he's seen from Romeo Doubs early in Packers camp.
Rodgers doesn’t gas rookies … basically ever. Here he suggests the only WRs who made as many “wow” plays early in camp as Romeo Doubs, wound up “in the top 10 in Packers receiving history.”
He’s invoking Davante, Jordy, Jennings, Cobb. That’s 👀
pic.twitter.com/VHPKgRuw4A
Doubs has gotten a significant opportunity so far in camp. Christian Watson has been off the field dealing with some injury issues. Sammy Watkins, believe it or not, has had issues staying on the field as well. Doubs has done well with his opportunities and put some pretty plays on tape.
I know we all joke and stuff and it’s totally funny but Romeo Doubs should legitimately be be one of the early favorites for ROTY. pic.twitter.com/rIg6wNXSAK
The wide receiver position was always viewed as one of the weakest parts of the Packers roster. Sammy Watkins, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb is an extremely weak group of receiving options for a team that is amongst the top-five favorites to win the Super Bowl this upcoming season. If Doubs is the real deal, he can move up the depth chart quickly and get on the field. There's no superstars holding him back. When and if he gets on the field, the ceiling is obviously high because he'll be catching passes from the reigning back-to-back MVP.
As a result of the training camp hype, Doubs is now just 18-to-1 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Those are the 12th-best odds overall and better odds than first-round wide receivers Jahan Dotson (20-to-1) and Jameson Williams (25-to-1).
On one hand, if Doubs continues to dominate camp, these odds will get even lower by the time the season rolls around. We're already seeing him make massive inroads in the fantasy community, and now that move is being recognized in the betting market. So if you're a believer in Doubs, it might be the last chance to get him at still somewhat juicy odds.
There's obviously the other side. Wide receivers getting hyped in Green Bay is nothing new. For the longest time, we've been trying to figure out who the No. 2 option was going to be in that offense. Every year, it's a new name. We've overhyped players like Jeff Janis, Jared Abbrederis, Jake Kumerow, Geronimo Allison, J’Mon Moore, Reggie Begelton, and Equanimeous St. Brown.
Will Doubs finally buck that trend? Or will he simply be added to the above list next year when we fantasize about another new pass catching weapon for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers?
Romeo Doubs at the NFL scouting combine. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | 2022-08-08T22:00:36Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL betting: Romeo Doubs is this year's training camp darling | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-romeo-doubs-is-this-years-training-camp-darling-214948640.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-romeo-doubs-is-this-years-training-camp-darling-214948640.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens had to do plenty of roster shuffling over the course of the 2021 season with how many injuries the team went through. They finished the year at 8-9 after a six-game losing streak, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Baltimore has seen some positional groups need some infusion of depth so far in 2022, with cornerback and outside linebacker being two of them. On Monday the team announced that they made two roster moves, signing cornerback Daryl Worley while placing outside linebacker Vince Biegel on injured reserve with a torn achilles.
Worley is entering his seventh season in the NFL, and spent part of the 2021 season with the Ravens after injuries decimated the cornerback position. In his career he’s totaled 272 tackles and five interceptions.
Biegel was vying for a 53-man roster spot in Baltimore, but suffered a torn achilles in practice on Thursday. It’s the second torn achilles in three years for the veteran, and the third season-ending injury in three years. Baltimore could look to add more depth at the position before the year begins depending on the health of Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo.
Ravens activate RB J.K. Dobbins off of PUP list
The Ravens activated running back J.K. Dobbins off of the physically able to perform list on Monday
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (Reuters) -A judge sentenced a white father and son to life in prison and their neighbor to 35 years on Monday for a federal hate crime in the 2020 murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man shot after jogging in a suburban Georgia neighborhood in a case exemplifying racist violence and vigilantism in America. Travis McMichael, a 36-year-old former U.S. Coast Guard mechanic, his father Gregory McMichael, a 66-year-old former Glynn County police officer who later worked for the local prosecutor's office, and William "Roddie" Bryan, a 52-year-old mechanic, were sentenced in the coastal city of Brunswick. All three then were convicted in February of federal charges of violating Arbery's civil rights by attacking him because of his race and of attempted kidnapping, with the McMichaels also found guilty of a firearms charge. | 2022-08-08T22:00:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens sign CB, place OLB on injured reserve | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-sign-cb-place-olb-201503739.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-sign-cb-place-olb-201503739.html?src=rss |
Like the Seattle Seahawks, tight end Colby Parkinson has undergone some changes over the last year. Parkinson, who entered college at just 230 pounds, has added some bulk to his 6-foot-7 frame.
Changing his diet and workout regimen, Parkinson is now weighing in at just over 260 pounds.
“Yeah, I feel a lot more confident this year, a lot stronger,” Parkinson said during his press conference on Sunday. “I’m confident in my steps, in the run game footwork–wise. The extra strength has definitely helped as well.”
The tight end told reporters there wasn’t a specific diet plan he used, but rather, he found a way to consume between 3000-5000 calories per day.
“Eating a lot,” Parkinson continued. “In the offseason, I worked out with some of my buddies from Stanford and actually did a lot of O-line lifts. So, I got a little bulkier and I feel great at this weight and feel like I’m moving well.”
Parkinson and the rest of the Seahawks return to practice on Tuesday to ready themselves to face the Steelers in their first preseason game of the summer. | 2022-08-08T22:01:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson feeling great at new weight | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-tight-end-colby-parkinson-202743517.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-tight-end-colby-parkinson-202743517.html?src=rss |
Former University of Kansas guard Rex Walters has been hired as an assistant coach by the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets.
Walters, 52, who played basketball at KU during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons, recently was hired as a member of first-year Hornets coach Steve Clifford’s coaching staff, along with Tyrone Corbin, Bob Beyer and Bruce Kruetzer.
Walters, who has 18 years of combined NBA assistant and college head and assistant coaching experience, joins the Hornets after most recently working on the New Orleans Pelicans’ coaching staff during the 2020-21 NBA season.
Walters, the No. 16 overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets, played for New Jersey, Philadelphia and Miami in his seven-year NBA playing career. He also played pro ball in Spain and in the ABA.
He was head coach for two seasons at Florida Atlantic and eight years at the University of San Francisco. He was recognized as the West Coast Conference coach of the year in 2013-14.
He also has been the head coach of the Grand Rapids Drive in the NBA G League (2016-17), an assistant coach in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons and an assistant in college at Valparaiso, Nevada and Wake Forest.
As a player at KU, Walters was a two-time first-team all-Big Eight selection. He was the 1992 Big Eight newcomer of the year and was named to the 1993 all-NCAA Midwest Regional team. The Jayhawks lost to North Carolina in a Final Four semifinal game that season, 78-68, in New Orleans.
Why did so many fall for Braidy, ride the wave of optimism around it, or quietly go along despite doubts? | 2022-08-08T22:20:44Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Kansas guard Rex Walters hired as assistant coach for NBA’s Charlotte Hornets | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-kansas-guard-rex-walters-100000589.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-kansas-guard-rex-walters-100000589.html?src=rss |
We have arrived at the third part of our five-part preview series ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season, this time ranking the Top 25 small forwards ahead of the upcoming campaign.
This is a loaded position top to bottom, but especially as we reach the Top 6 or 7 guys, all of whom are established, unquestionable superstars.
With so much to discuss, let’s jump right into the action.
Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State)
A promising young piece on the reigning champions, Jonathan Kuminga showed a lot of promise as a rookie in his role as a disruptive defender and a slasher on offense with some spot-up shooting ability.
Kuminga averaged 9.3 points and 3.3 rebounds as a first-year player while shooting 51.3 percent from the floor and 33.6 percent from beyond the arc. He’ll be counted on to do more in his second season, however, as the Golden State Warriors did lose some key depth from their championship squad.
But if Kuminga can build upon his inaugural season, he should have no problem in a bigger role as a sophomore piece.
For the latest Jonathan Kuminga rumors and salary info, click here.
Kelly Oubre (Charlotte)
A slashing scorer with long arms who can defend multiple positions, albeit not close to an elite level, Kelly Oubre is a veteran at this point in his career who can score baskets near the rim or from beyond the arc.
Still, Oubre has been a negative-impact player for most of his career, including last season with the Charlotte Hornets, when the team was 2.1 points per 100 possessions worse with the former Kansas standout on the floor.
Even so, Oubre offers some value by knowing his role and by not trying to do too much, and he did average 15.0 points and 4.0 rebounds as he hit 34.5 percent of his triples, so he’s still a solid piece to have on your roster.
For the latest Kelly Oubre rumors and salary info, click here.
Dillon Brooks (Memphis)
Perhaps a bit low in the rankings compared to the players around him, Dillon Brooks was a vital piece for what was an elite Memphis Grizzlies squad, who just posted career-highs in various stats, including scoring (18.4 points) and assists (1.1).
However, a poor playoff showing where his often selfish shot selection cost Memphis dearly at inopportune times, coupled with his 30.9 three-point percentage last year (and it’s not like he was shy about launching away anyway), lowered Brooks’ place in these rankings.
We might be acting a little too harshly towards Brooks, though, as he was a positive-impact player for Memphis in 2021-22, with the team improving by 7.4 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor. And his scoring did often give the Grizzlies’ offense a much-needed boost.
Don’t be shocked if Brooks outperforms his place in this ranking in 2022-23.
For the latest Dillon Brooks rumors and salary info, click here.
Gordon Hayward (Charlotte)
The story of Gordon Hayward is the same as it’s been since his devastating leg injury all those years ago: When he’s on the floor, he’s a productive, do-a-bit-of-everything swingman who can score from all three levels, rebound and create for others.
The problem is, he’s not on the floor anywhere near enough due to different lingering injuries, with Hayward suiting up in just 44 and 49 games in the last two seasons respectively.
Hayward remains relatively effective when he plays, however, putting up 15.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 last season while shooting 39.1 percent from three.
If Hayward can stay healthier in the upcoming campaign, he has the ability to post a Top 15 small forward type of season. We just don’t see that happening, unfortunately.
For the latest Gordon Hayward rumors and salary info, click here.
De'Andre Hunter (Atlanta)
Despite being three seasons into his career, it almost feels like De’Andre Hunter has a higher ceiling he can reach, a hint of which he showed us in the 2021 playoffs.
After averaging 13.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in the regular season, Hunter blew up in the postseason, upping his averages to 21.2 points and 3.8 rebounds on 55.7 percent shooting, 46.2 percent from three. Those shooting marks certainly aren’t sustainable for him to keep up for an entire season, but they do show he’s better than the player who put up just 13.4 points in 2021-22.
Hunter, who has face-up scoring ability, can slash and score near the rim and can defend multiple positions well, will need to show more consistency to reach the next step in his development.
We think he’ll do just that in 2022-23.
For the latest De’Andre Hunter rumors and salary info, click here.
Saddiq Bey (Detroit)
An outside shooting specialist on the wing, Saddiq Bey likes to launch from beyond the arc and is accurate from there, despite a high degree of difficulty on a lot of his attempts.
Through two career seasons, Bey is hitting 36.1 percent of his 7.0 nightly attempts from deep while averaging 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds. His shooting ability will be key for a Detroit Pistons team that quietly could be somewhat feisty in 2022-23, with Bey expected to space the floor for the team’s exciting young backcourt of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.
Bey had one particularly noteworthy performance last season when he went off for 51 points against the Orlando Magic on 17-of-27 shooting, 10-for-14 from three, a showing that gave us a good indication of just how hot the sharpshooter out of Villanova can get.
For the latest Saddiq Bey rumors and salary info, click here.
Josh Hart (Portland)
For the latest Josh Hart rumors and salary info, click here.
Herb Jones (New Orleans)
Herb Jones was a phenom defensively as a rookie, using his explosiveness and length to alter shots, pick pockets and jump passing lanes on his way to averaging 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks in Year 1.
Jones was also solid offensively, averaging 9.5 points on 33.7 percent shooting from three, giving him the early makings of a 3-and-D specialist with some slashing and off-the-dribble ability, too.
Jones’ impact was clearly felt by the New Orleans Pelicans, too, as the team was 6.3 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor. Alongside a healthy Zion Williamson in 2022-23, it’s scary to think about what a physically daunting frontcourt New Orleans will be able to boast next season.
For the latest Herbert Jones rumors and salary info, click here.
Bojan Bogdanovic (Utah)
He may have serious defensive deficiencies unrelated to effort, but Bojan Bogdanovic makes a huge positive impact thanks to his high-level offensive prowess.
Bogdanovic averaged 18.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 2021-22 while shooting 38.7 percent from three. His defense was problematic enough, however, that the Utah Jazz were still 2.8 points per 100 possessions worse with Bogdanovic on the floor last season and an obscene 18.6 points per 100 possessions worse with him in the game during the playoffs.
With the Jazz looking like they’re heading to a rebuild, it’s tough to forecast what Bogdanovic might be able to do in 2022-23, as we have no idea if he’ll even be on the team by the trade deadline. But if he does switch teams, whoever acquired Bogdanovic will be getting a player who can shoot, score from three or the midrange and nail shots off the dribble.
But not one who plays a lick of effective defense.
For the latest Bojan Bogdanovic rumors and salary info, click here.
Franz Wagner (Orlando)
A surprisingly great rookie season from Franz Wagner helped him land the No. 16 spot on this list, as we expect an even better sophomore campaign for the former Michigan Wolverine.
One of the four best rookies in his class, Wagner was very productive and impactful in Year 1, averaging 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists, flashing smooth scoring skill in transition and in the halfcourt to go with solid shooting from deep (35.4 percent).
Wagner can score from all three levels, can shoot off the dribble or drive it to the basket and finish with aplomb near the rim as well as get buckets out of the pick-and-roll.
For the latest Franz Wagner rumors and salary info, click here.
Keldon Johnson (San Antonio)
Despite the roster upheaval with the San Antonio Spurs, one player who can feel secure about his position on the team is Keldon Johnson, to whom the franchise just committed long-term money.
And it’s easy to see why, as Johnson is coming off a strong season that saw him average 17.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 39.8 percent from three, all career-high clips.
Johnson’s ability as a slashing scorer in the paint and to space the floor while being able to move his feet quickly to defend multiple positions help him stand out, as does his high-effort style on both ends of the floor.
For the latest Keldon Johnson rumors and salary info, click here.
The opinions on RJ Barrett tend to be a bit divisive, with the swingman putting up big numbers at a not-so-efficient rate, making him a difficult study. Add in the fact that the New York Knicks were statistically worse with him on the floor last season (by a hard-to-ignore 7.9 points per 100 possessions), Barrett’s most productive as a pro, and his case to be considered a top small forward becomes even more confusing.
In spite of that, Barrett was nice enough in 2021-22, averaging 20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists, though he put up those marks while shooting 40.8 percent from the floor and 34.2 percent from three.
Moreover, the advanced analytics did not think much of Barrett’s impact last season, with the Canadian forward sitting 144th in BPM, 230th in VORP and 158th in WS/48.
Still, Barrett only just turned 22, already has three years of pro experience and did put up 20 points nightly while flashing eye-catching moments relatively often.
If he can improve his efficiency, Barrett will outplay his place in this ranking. That’s a pretty big if, though.
For the latest RJ Barrett rumors and salary info, click here.
Michael Porter Jr. (Denver)
Michael Porter Jr. was one of the most difficult-to-forecast players for this exercise considering his 2021-22 season ended after just nine games with little word about how he looks now in his recovery from that back ailment.
Based on the year prior, we might be underselling Porter a bit with this ranking, as the Denver Nuggets swingman averaged 19.0 and 7.3 rebounds, hit 44,5 percent of his threes and appeared to be on a massive upward trajectory.
Then last season happened, seeing Porter average 9.9 points and shoot 20.8 percent from three, leaving us with little idea of how the talented small forward will bounce back in 2022-23.
But seeing as the Nuggets already locked up Porter to a max contract through 2026-27, the club is probably hoping beyond hope he looks like the 2020-21 version of himself, or they might have one of the worst contracts in the league in their books.
For the latest Michael Porter Jr. rumors and salary info, click here.
OG Anunoby (Toronto)
After some trade talk surrounding his name earlier in the offseason, things have quieted on that front lately, making it easier to project where OG Anunoby might sit among the NBA’s top small forwards in 2022-23.
Anunoby has been on the upswing for the last three years, improving his numbers each of those seasons, with his most recent contributions being 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 36.3 percent from beyond the arc. Add in that he’s one of the top defensive wings in the league and you have the makings of a two-way stud for the Toronto Raptors.
And with Anunoby only just having turned 25, we expect to see continued growth for the slashing swingman who has added more to his game every single season, even becoming a respectable iso face-up scorer in 2021-22.
For the latest OG Anunoby rumors and salary info, click here.
Andrew Wiggins (Golden State)
Coming off the most impactful season of his career, Andrew Wiggins just missed out on cracking the Top 10 of our top small forwards’ rankings, but considering how his last 12 months have gone, we doubt he’ll be too upset about that.
Wiggins put up 17.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in the 2021-22 regular season and hit 39.3 percent of his threes, the best mark of his career by a decent margin. The Canadian small forward stepped up even more when the Warriors needed him most, however, averaging 18.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks in the Finals against the Boston Celtics, making his mark as the second-most important Warrior in that series.
Now able to focus on slashing, spotting up from three, defending and getting after it on the class, and no longer being tasked with the heavy expectation of leading a franchise as a former No. 1 pick, Wiggins has absolutely thrived as a more complementary piece.
We think we’ll see more of the same out of Wiggins in 2022-23.
For the latest Andrew Wiggins rumors and salary info, click here.
Mikal Bridges (Phoenix)
One of the top 3-and-D players in the NBA at the moment, Mikal Bridges is more complementary piece than star, but a star he is in his role nonetheless.
Last season, Bridges was fantastic, averaging 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals to go with 36.9 percent shooting from three and a +9.5 swing rating, playing a pivotal part in what was an elite Phoenix Suns team in the regular season.
According to VORP, Bridges was the 36th-most impactful player in the league last year, and it’s not difficult to surmise why, as his defense and three-point shooting were vital to the Suns’ success.
With quick feet, great instincts and above-average wingspan, Bridges could guard multiple positions and he only takes shots within his wheelhouse on offense, never forcing things but rather letting the game come to him.
For the latest Mikal Bridges rumors and salary info, click here.
Khris Middleton (Milwaukee)
A smooth bucket-getter on the perimeter, Khris Middleton can score, rebound, assist and defend at the level of a solid No. 2 option on a championship team, as was proven two seasons ago when the Milwaukee Bucks hoisted the title.
His importance was made even more clear last playoffs when an injury sustained in Game 2 of Round 1 forced Middleton to miss the rest of the postseason, which would end for Milwaukee the following round.
With Middleton, would the Bucks have been able to get past the Celtics, who they took to seven games anyway? It’s possible.
All in all, the former Texas A&M Aggie remains a stud on the wing, one that averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists last season while shooting 44.3 percent from the floor and 37.3 percent from three.
For the latest Khris Middleton rumors and salary info, click here.
DeMar DeRozan (Chicago)
DeRozan was 2nd Team All-NBA in 2021-22, a well-deserved honor after he averaged 27.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists and helped lead what was a very solid Bulls team back to the playoffs.
For the latest DeMar DeRozan rumors and salary info, click here.
Brandon Ingram (New Orleans)
In 2021-22, Brandon Ingram did an admirable job of stepping up in the absence of Williamson, helping lead the Pelicans to the playoffs after a very slow start to the campaign.
Ingram does what the modern do-everything swingman is expected to, and that’s to score, rebound and create at high levels. The Duke Blue Devil averaged 22.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists last season while hitting 46.1 percent of his field-goal attempts.
With a huge year for the Pelicans ahead with a returning Williamson to play alongside Ingram, we expect more of the same from the lanky swingman, hence, his place in this ranking.
For the latest Brandon Ingram rumors and salary info, click here.
Paul George (LA Clippers)
Here, we enter the portion of the list with the legitimate, unquestionable superstar small forwards, a part of the ranking that begins with Paul George at No. 6.
George only saw action in 31 games last season due to injury, but in those contests, he was his usual brilliant self, averaging 24.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists to go with 2.2 steals and 2.9 three-pointers. George made the Los Angeles Clippers 5.7 points per 100 possessions better with his presence, too, showing how crucial his impact was on the club’s success.
Additionally, a legitimate two-way force, George remains a top-notch wing defender, albeit not one at the level he was at his physical peak.
The scary thing is, George isn’t even the only Los Angeles Clippers we’re going to discuss in the Top 6 of this ranking.
For the latest Paul George rumors and salary info, click here.
Jimmy Butler (Miami)
As if the 2019-20 Finals run in the Bubble wasn’t enough proof, Jimmy Butler provided even further evidence of his status as an elite wing, one capable of leading a team deep into the playoffs, this past season when he helped guide the Miami Heat to within a game of the championship series once again.
Butler posted a great regular season, averaging 21.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.6 steals on his way to earning All-Star honors, though he did get snubbed for an All-NBA distinction in favor of other options. But Butler stepped his game up even further in the postseason, slashing a 27.4/7.4/4.6 stat line to go with 2.1 steals and 50.6 percent shooting from the floor.
Butler also remains an elite defender on the wing, who uses toughness and unreal instincts to disrupt opposing offenses as much as possible.
All in all, Butler gets things done on both ends of the floor at a very high level, and he’s proven to be a winning player on elite teams. We expect 2022-23 to be more of the same.
For the latest Jimmy Butler rumors and salary info, click here.
LeBron James (LA Lakers)
A complete mess of a season by the Los Angeles Lakers shouldn’t distract from the fact that LeBron James remains one of the NBA’s top players.
His raw statistics – 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks on 52.4 percent shooting – were preposterous while the advanced metrics – fifth in BPM, fifth in VORP and fourth in PER – rated him as one of the best players in the league.
The thing is, such high expectations are placed on both James and the Lakers that even a 30/8/6 campaign gets overlooked.
So how did we end up with James at fourth overall? It might seem low and could easily be made to look bad by the end of the 2022-23 season, but we simply expect bigger things out of the next three players on this list.
Plus, heading into his Age-38 campaign, Father Time has to catch up to James at some point… right?
For the latest LeBron James rumors and salary info, click here.
Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers)
This might be a divisive pick to have Kawhi Leonard in the Top 3 considering we haven’t seen him play in an NBA game since June 2021. However, at the time he went down, Leonard was making a solid case to be considered the top player in the league, so maybe merely third on this list is underselling him.
It’s tough to know how he’ll bounce back from a blown-out knee, but based on how much time he’s had off now to recover, we expect to see peak Leonard pretty much out of the gate in 2022-23.
In the 2021 playoffs, an 11-game sample size for Leonard, The Klaw was downright monstrous, averaging 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.2 blocks while slashing 57.3/39.3/88.0 percent shooting splits, making a variety of tough shots no matter the defense, getting to the foul line and playing elite defense on the other end.
It’s been a while, but let’s not forget just how dominant Leonard was at the time he went down.
Basketball fans should be excited to see his return in 2022-23.
For the latest Kawhi Leonard rumors and salary info, click here.
A trade request and a poor 2022 playoff showing loom over Kevin Durant at the moment. Regardless, at the end of the day, he remains one of the league’s best not just at the small forward position but overall, hence, we have him as the No. 2 swingman ahead of the 2022-23 season.
In 2021-22, Durant averaged 26.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists while shooting 51.8 percent from the floor and 38.3 percent from three, ranking fifth in PER, sixth in VORP and sixth in BPM. On top of that, Durant made the Brooklyn Nets a huge 11.9 points per 100 possessions better with his presence.
Uncertainty about where he’ll play does cast a cloud over his head, as does his brutal showing against the Celtics in the playoffs, but the latter shouldn’t be used as a referendum to indicate Durant’s play is about to taper off. After all, remember the 2021 playoffs when Butler averaged 14 points while getting swept by the Bucks? How’d he bounce back after that?
We expect the same to happen with Durant in 2022-23, though we’re not sure what jersey color he’ll be rocking when it does.
For the latest Kevin Durant rumors and salary info, click here.
Jayson Tatum (Boston)
Watching Jayson Tatum get past Giannis Antetokounmpo, Durant and Butler in last year’s playoffs before running out of steam in the Finals almost felt like a passing of the torch, one that established Tatum as the best swingman in basketball.
Our panel saw it that way, at least, as four of our eight voters had Tatum as the No. 1 small forward for the upcoming 2022-23 season. It’s easy to see why, too, as the former Duke standout averaged 26.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists while shooting 45.3 percent from the floor in what was merely his Age-23 season.
With room left to grow and the confidence after his Finals run acting as the wind in his sails, we expect an even better version of Tatum next year, which is why we landed with him at No. 1 on this list.
For the latest Jayson Tatum rumors and salary info, click here.
"(I learned) that I'm 24 and one of the best players in the world and that I will compete against whoever and take on that challenge," Tatum said. "In that same breath, I feel like there's so much I could be better at, and I think that's the ...
The United States has greenlighted the largest military assistance package to Ukraine thus far, preparing to send $1 billion in ammunition for advanced rocket systems, vehicles and explosives to help the country beat back the Russian invasion. The new assistance package will include ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as 75,000… | 2022-08-08T22:20:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ranking: The Top 25 small forwards for the 2022-23 season | https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-top-25-small-forwards-152455883.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-top-25-small-forwards-152455883.html?src=rss |
(Reuters) -The United States will send an additional $5.5 billion in aid to Ukraine, made up of $4.5 billion in budgetary support and $1 billion in military assistance, to help it come to grips with the turmoil of this year's Russian invasion. The $4.5 billion budgetary grant will fund urgent government needs including payments for pensions, social welfare and healthcare costs, bringing total U.S. fiscal aid for Ukraine to $8.5 billion since Russia's February invasion, the U.S. Agency for International Development said. The funding, coordinated with the U.S. Treasury Department through the World Bank, will go to the Ukraine government in tranches, beginning with a $3 billion disbursement in August, USAID said. | 2022-08-08T22:29:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kyle Petty on Backseat Drivers: Kevin Harvick ‘the most feared man in the playoffs’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/kyle-petty-backseat-drivers-kevin-211716853.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kyle-petty-backseat-drivers-kevin-211716853.html?src=rss |
As a former PGA Tour winner who then went on to spend 20 years as PGA Tour Commissioner, Deane Beman has seen it all in professional golf.
Beman, 84, who ran the Tour from 1974 to 1994, was the architect behind making the Tour a billion-dollar business. He developed much of the business model still in use today, and while now devoted to enjoying retirement, playing golf as he likes to joke only on days ending in ‘Y,’ he remains is one of the brightest minds in golf. He still has plenty of opinions, especially on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf controversy. Here’s a short conversation held recently on the subject with Beman, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
GWK: Given that you created the playbook that the PGA Tour has been running all these years later since your retirement in 1994, I imagine you must be a tad bit annoyed at what’s happening in the world of professional golf with star players defecting to LIV Golf?
Deane Beman and course architect Pete Dye during TPC Sawgrass construction in 1980. (Photo by Bill Knight/PGA Tour)
DB: I’m not emotionally involved there. I can understand some of the older guys that aren’t looking forward to their career getting better but only worse. I can see them grabbing the money. It’s not something I probably would do myself. Hell, I took a cut in pay to turn pro and I took a cut in pay to become Commissioner. I was making more as a touring pro when I took the job as Commissioner. But everybody’s not me.
Sergio (Garcia) and players like that are grabbing the money and going, that’s fine. Overall, I don’t think the people putting up the money give a damn about the game of golf. They are trying to use what we built over decades, what I think is the most courageous and responsible sport that there is and that has integrity and respect for the rules and respect for the game and respect for competition, I don’t think the people putting up the money give a damn about any of that. They are putting up money for their own personal benefit. I don’t think it is good for the game of golf. I think what the head of the R&A (Martin Slumbers) said (during the British Open) is exactly right. He got it spot on. They’ve got all the money in the world. I don’t think what they are doing is sustainable financially unless they keep throwing money at it.
GWK: Did you fear something like this ever happening?
Then PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman talks to Gary Player at an event at TPC Prestancia in Sarasota, Florida.
DB: There are certain players that have gone over there that I think have made a mistake for their career but maybe they don’t care as much as I thought they did about what it stands for and what it means to be a champion golfer. A lot of them are just thinking about the money. If you’re just worried about money, there are a helluva lot of easier ways to get a lot of money than to play golf, I can tell you that. They should’ve thought about that a long time ago.
GWK: Should professional golfers receive guaranteed money?
Former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman speaks at the opening ceremony prior to the first round of the Live And Work In Maine Open held at Falmouth Country Club on June 24, 2021 in Falmouth, Maine. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
DB: I think the system is awfully good. I don’t think the game of golf should subsidize a modestly good player. If you don’t have what it takes to be a high performer, you ought to find that out early and go get an honest job someplace else and let somebody else develop the skills to be as good as you need to be to stay on Tour. I don’t believe the Tour should finance anymore mediocrity in performance. Why should they?
I have been concerned for years for the development tours that there is too much money involved. It allows a guy to play modestly and still sustain himself when he ought to go home and get an honest job and do something that he can really excel at, because he damn sure isn’t excelling in golf. We’re just financing his mediocrity. Is that too harsh? We’ve got guys that are recycling two or three times. They don’t want to go home and really work for a living. I’m all for a guy being able to take a little longer to perform at a high level and really contribute but I’m not for a guy who makes $5-10-15 million and never wins a tournament.
GWK: What do you think Jay could’ve done differently to prevent all these players from leaving?
Deane Beman driving heavy equipment during construction of TPC Sawgrass (PGA Tour Archives)
DB: I don’t think he could’ve done anything differently. I think he’s done as good a job as possibly could have been done. I’ve thought about it a lot. I don’t think he could have done anything other than what he’s done. He’s done an exemplary job.
GWK: Did you build too good of a model for the PGA Tour that players don’t appreciate it?
Ty Votaw, left, of the PGA Tour and Deane Beman, former PGA Tou commissioner, at the 2014 Golfweek Architecture Summit (Golfweek Photos)
DB: You don’t build loyalty and appreciation into a model like we built for the Tour. That’s up to the integrity of the individual and the appreciation of what’s been done for them.
I don’t think there’s anything you can do about that. The model is exemplary in all of sports. We’ve raised more money than all other sports combined for charity. The model is exemplary in business and sports and has been carried on wonderfully by Tim and by Jay. The future is really bright. You’ve got somebody like the Saudis that has more money than brains and integrity that are going to destroy something that is really positive in the world. There’s nothing more positive and has more integrity than the game of golf and the PGA Tour and what it’s done for all these communities that have helped us be successful. The players have benefited, the communities have benefited and I don’t know a better model.
GWK: Has there been anything positive from the Saudi-backed league?
Deane Beman and Pete Dye at TPC Sawgrass (PGA Tour Archive)
DB: Not that I see. Maybe demasking the integrity of some individuals. Their real stripes are showing. Some of the people who have benefited enormously from what the Tour has put together are fully disclosing their integrity.
It’s a money grab. I don’t see anything good about it. If they are reasonably responsible people, there is enough money in being successful on the PGA Tour to satisfy anybody. If you have $50 million, $75 million, $100 million, what do you need another $50-75-100 million? It’s all about money. Playing the PGA Tour and being recognized as a champion on the PGA Tour is not about money. Sure, you ought to be rewarded and be able to make a good living and live your later years in damn-near luxury, but it’s not about money. Again the R&A guy, go look at his press conference again, he nailed it.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the World Rankings. That’s a big deal. And then what happens when they crank up their lawyers. Then you’ll really see that they don’t care about anything but themselves. They don’t care about the game of golf and they are out to destroy anything that gets in their way. They couldn’t care less about the game of golf and that’s where it all starts.
GWK: Do you think the threat of LIV has allowed Jay to get approved some policies that may have otherwise taken longer?
Deane Beman at the 2005 John Deere Classic (PGA Tour)
DB: I agree with that. I think we’re going to end up seeing the integrity of the majors come into focus in the future and some of the decisions they’re going to have to make and whether they really are interested in the success of their tournament versus the good of the game for the long haul. We’re going to find that out, aren’t we?
GWK: What is your reaction to the temporary restraining order filed by three LIV players to compete in the FedEx Cup Playoffs?
Former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman and Vernon Kelly at the groundbreaking of TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (PGA Tour Archives)
DB: I don’t know the numbers, OK? The three players that are trying to get into the Playoffs, do you know how much they were paid to go over there and play?
GWK: Not officially.
DB: My semi-reaction is if you knew how much they were paid up front and you knew how much they had made in the three tournaments they played, it’s possible they have already made more money than they could make it they did pretty well in the Playoffs. So, they are trying to have their cake and eat it too.
If they are saying that they are losing money by not being able to play, they violated the regulations and probably got more money then they are able to make. That’s one of the points I’d make. And they didn’t even have to compete for it, right? But I don’t know what they got so I don’t know if that is true or not.
Skies will be partly sunny to partly cloud with midday and afternoon storms developing inland. Heavy rain, gusty winds, and frequent lightning are the main threats. | 2022-08-08T22:29:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Q&A with former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman on the PGA Tour-LIV Golf controversy | https://sports.yahoo.com/q-former-pga-tour-commissioner-181256787.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/q-former-pga-tour-commissioner-181256787.html?src=rss |
Tavien St. Clair, a 6-foot-3-inch, 190-pound quarterback prospect out of Bellefontaine, Ohio, recently took a visit to Gainesville where he attended the Gators’ annual Friday Night Lights event. He walked out of town with an offer from the Florida Gators.
The rising sophomore has been garnering quite a bit of attention so far. In addition to Florida, St. Clair holds offers from the Tennessee Volunteers, Louisville Cardinals, Pittsburgh Panthers, Iowa State Cyclones, Toledo Rockets and Central Michigan Chippewas.
His offer from the Gators came after a camp session where St. Clair was able to get one-on-one work with head coach Billy Napier and offensive analyst Ryan O'Hara, both of whom worked hands-on with Florida’s quarterback room.
After a great conversation with @coach_bnapier I’m extremely excited to say that I have received an offer from the University Of Florida! Thanks for the great camp and coaching! @CoachRyanO @GatorsFB #UFuture #GoGators 🐊🐊 pic.twitter.com/EEp2HUntw7
— Tavien St. Clair (@TJSaint_1) July 27, 2022
St. Clair recently told Gators Online that Florida’s rich tradition, including its three Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks combined with the track record and energy that Napier and his staff have brought in, are playing a big part in why the Gators are nearing the top of his list.
A highly-regarded 2025 prospect, St. Clair intends to make the rounds this season to get a better idea of what he is looking for in a program. He will be attending multiple games this season including being on campus at Ohio State, Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Tennessee.
Florida is intent on making its way onto St. Clair’s itinerary. If the Gators are going to make noise in recruiting, they need to continue to make an early impact on players of St. Clair’s quality in the future. | 2022-08-08T22:47:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | Heralded 2025 quarterback prospect high on Gators after recent offer | https://sports.yahoo.com/heralded-2025-quarterback-prospect-high-201533961.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/heralded-2025-quarterback-prospect-high-201533961.html?src=rss |
USA TODAY Sports released its 2022 preseason AFCA Coaches Poll and the Iowa Hawkeyes were the first team on the outside of the top 25 looking in. For a team that won the Big Ten West last season and returns plenty of firepower defensively, it’s surprised some that Iowa starts outside the coaches’ top 25.
Iowa isn’t alone in that distinction, though. USA TODAY Sports’ Scooby Axson listed five teams, including the Iowa Hawkeyes, that were snubbed in the preseason AFCA Coaches Poll.
LSU was the first team that Axson mentioned as a top 25 snub. Brian Kelly comes over from Notre Dame to take over for the Tigers. The addition of Jayden Daniels is going to be a fascinating one at quarterback.
As Axson notes, Kelly didn’t get a 10-year, $95 million contract to duplicate Ed Orgeron’s 6-6 season from a season ago. Plus, each of the past three LSU head coaches have won national championships.
It’s not like LSU is devoid of talent. They generally recruit well, but getting back to becoming a respectable unit is not that far off. If the defense can get back to stopping the run, they will be fine. But the key is shoring up a leaky offense line and figuring out quarterback position, including Jayden Daniels from Arizona State. Anytime you are dealing with the gauntlet called the SEC West, which has gotten more coaches fired than any other in the past 15 years, nothing is assured. – Axson, USA TODAY Sports.
Welcome aboard the snub train to Mack Brown and North Carolina. Quarterback Sam Howell is gone, so replacing that star power is obviously one of the biggest storylines here. Really, Axson didn’t offer up a ringing endorsement on why North Carolina is a solid snub candidate, but he included the Tar Heels all the same.
UNC has an absolute stud in wide receiver Josh Downs and the inevitable questions at quarterback and offensive line will linger without improvement. Despite having an offense that ranked in the top 10, more often than not Howell was running for his life, going down nearly 50 times in 2021.It seems the entire Coastal division got better and now Carolina is looking up at Miami, who brings in coach Mario Cristobal , and the often-forgotten Pittsburgh, who happen to be the defending conference champion. So, it may be a good thing to fly under the radar as tampered expectations could lead to a few upsets. – Axson, USA TODAY Sports.
According to Axson, the other Big Ten team that got snubbed is Penn State. Sean Clifford returns at quarterback for a team that is looking to improve upon a fourth-place division finish last season.
They lost their seven games by an average of 5.8 points, and had ample chances to win each.
Quarterback Sean Clifford is back for a sixth year, and coach James Franklin vowed to the Happy Valley fan base that whatever issues have plagued his team over the past two years that it will get fixed. Here is an alarming thing they can start with: No running back gained 100 yards in any game in 2021. – Axson, USA TODAY Sports.
Hendon Hooker passed for 2,945 yards and 31 touchdowns and also rushed for 620 yards and five more touchdowns. That production alone is enough to warrant Tennessee‘s consideration for the top 25.
Hooker and his top target, Cedric Tillman (64 catches, 12 TDs) will give opponents fits all season.
When the defense didn’t get to the quarterback on a consistent basis, it spelled trouble giving up an absurd 97 plays that went for 20 yards or more. – Axson, USA TODAY Sports.
The moment you’ve all been waiting for. Iowa was among his five teams that got snubbed.
The combination of Spencer Petras, or whoever is going to be QB1, and tight end Sam LaPorta is key and Iowa must find another play-making wideout to keep defenses honest.
Iowa ranked in the top 10 in turnover margin, while leading the nation in interceptions and must sustain that productivity and rely on its outstanding linebacking corps to compete with Wisconsin along with Ohio State and Michigan, who join the schedule this season. – Axson, USA TODAY Sports.
Iowa returns plenty of talent to one of the nation’s best defenses. Most notably, that includes linebackers Jack Campbell and Seth Benson along with cornerback Riley Moss.
The Hawkeyes feel like Jestin Jacobs is another emerging star at linebacker and that this is one of their deepest defensive lines in some time. Combine that with other talented options in the secondary and you have what should be one of the Big Ten’s and nation’s best defenses once more.
Thank goodness talking season is almost over. It’s the same song and dance here. We get it already. Iowa’s offense was a problem last year. How much Iowa improves there will determine whether or not Axson including the Hawkeyes here ultimately was the right or wrong call. | 2022-08-08T22:47:16Z | sports.yahoo.com | Iowa and four others listed as snubs in the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-four-others-listed-snubs-214536568.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-four-others-listed-snubs-214536568.html?src=rss |
USA TODAY Sports released their preseason top 25 coaches poll prior to the kickoff of the 2022 college football season. As it stands right now, the Iowa Hawkeyes are the first team on the outside looking in as they are excluded from the top 25.
While preseason top 25 polls are based off of expectations, hype, and circumstances, no actual on-field data or games exist to make a true ranking. That said, it is still peculiar to exclude the defending Big Ten West champions from a national top 25.
The top of the rankings are the usual suspects in Alabama at No. 1, Ohio State at No. 2, and Georgia at No. 3. The rest of the top 10 looks like this: Clemson at No. 4, Notre Dame at No. 5, Michigan at No. 6, Texas A&M at No. 7, Utah at No. 8, Oklahoma at No. 9 and Baylor at No. 10.
The Big Ten has two other representatives in the preseason USA TODAY Sports top 25 rankings. The Michigan State Spartans at No. 14 and the Wisconsin Badgers at No. 20 join the Buckeyes and Wolverines.
The SEC has six schools in the top 25 while the Big 12 has four schools represented and the ACC has five schools selected.
Some schools feel slightly overrated. Texas is always overrated and has not proven otherwise in the last few years aside from their talent on paper. Cincinnati will still be very formidable but losing Desmond Ridder and Sauce Gardner could caise a minor step back for the Bearcats.
Clemson deserves to be in the top 25 but sitting at No. 4 coming off of a down year in terms of what it takes to be in the college football playoff seems as though their ranking was given based on prior accolades as opposed to the current situation.
2022 Iowa Hawkeyes football game-by-game predictions
3 men convicted in Ahmaud Arbery’s death sentenced on federal hate crime charges | 2022-08-08T22:47:22Z | sports.yahoo.com | Iowa Hawkeyes left out of preseason 2022 USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-hawkeyes-left-preseason-2022-193030689.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-hawkeyes-left-preseason-2022-193030689.html?src=rss |
If it wasn’t clear enough that Penn State is a team that will have something to prove this season, the release of the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll may drive that point home a little bit harder. Penn State was left out of the preseason coaches poll, which was released on Monday ahead of the 2022 college football season.
Alabama gobbled up the majority of the first-place votes from the voters in the coaches poll to claim the top spot in the preseason poll. With 54 first-place votes, Alabama comfortably sits atop the USA TOSAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll to start the season. Big Ten favorite Ohio State is ranked second in the poll with five first-place votes to its name. Defending national champion Georgia received six first-place votes but sits No. 3 overall behind the Crimson Tide and Buckeyes.
Just four teams from the Big Ten appear in the preseason coaches poll. In addition to Ohio State, the coaches poll includes defending Big Ten champion Michigan (No. 6), Michigan State (No. 14), and Wisconsin (No. 20).
Iowa and Penn State are the first two teams left out of the poll, and first and second respectively in the “Others Receiving Votes” category. So it seems Penn State won’t have to do too much to crack the top 25 in the first few weeks of the season. A road win at Purdue and a road win at Auburn would likely move Penn State within the top 25 in the first few weeks of the season.
Penn State’s schedule includes three preseason top 25 opponents according to the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll; Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State. | 2022-08-08T22:47:29Z | sports.yahoo.com | Penn State left out of preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-left-preseason-usa-204352592.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-left-preseason-usa-204352592.html?src=rss |
The college football season is getting close. Can you taste it?
On Monday, the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA coaches poll was released. At the top, there aren’t very many surprises, with Alabama, Ohio State and defending champs Georgia all at the top.
Here’s the entire top 25:
There it is, and the Pac-12 has three teams in the top 15, with the USC Trojans coming out of nowhere and emerging as a contender with the additions of Lincoln Riley, Jordan Addison, Caleb Williams and a ton of other big names.
Utah, the defending Pac-12 champions, is in the top 10 and was picked by the media to win the conference once again.
Then there is Oregon, and things are much different in Eugene. Mario Cristobal left for Miami and got replaced by Georgia assistant Dan Lanning. Bo Nix is also set to be the team’s starter at QB.
So, three Pac-12 teams are in the top 25, and there is a very likely scenario that all three teams crack the top 10 before too long, especially if the Trojans do as well as everybody is expecting them to.
As of now, no other Buffs opponents are in the top 25, so that’s good for their chances of winning football games. On the other hand, their brutal schedule looks even more daunting late in the season. | 2022-08-08T22:47:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | Preseason USA TODAY Sports coaches poll features a few Pac-12 teams | https://sports.yahoo.com/preseason-usa-today-sports-coaches-183526758.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/preseason-usa-today-sports-coaches-183526758.html?src=rss |
The UNC football program gets its 2022 season started in just about three weeks but that doesn’t mean that head coach Mack Brown will rush into a key decision at quarterback.
Redshirt freshman Drake Maye and sophomore Jacolby Criswell are in the middle of a key quarterback battle this fall and up to this point no stater has been named.
On Monday, Brown told reporters that he will aim to make a decision on who will start the season opener on the Sunday before game week.
“We’re hoping we make (the decision) on Sunday before the first game and tell you on Monday at the press conference,” Brown said on Monday. “But it still has not separated enough for us to make that decision.”
Last season, Maye was 7-of-10 for 89 yards and one touchdown. In limited playing time in two seasons, Criswell is 16-of-25 for 195 yards and one touchdown and one interception. He also has one rushing touchdown and 94 yards on the ground.
With a big change coming under center regardless of who starters, Mack Brown is focused on a few key aspects of the position.
“It’s who moves the ball and who scores,” Brown said. “… it’ll be who’s gonna protect the ball. It’s gonna be who’s gonna get the ball out their hands fast because we’re not gonna go through sacks like we did last year. It’s going to be who can convert on third and fourth down. Who runs well enough to make plays. And who’s got the poise and leadership to carry the team to the end zone.”
Regardless of the starter, it will be an entirely new era that is ushered in as the Tar Heels move on from three-year starter and standout quarterback Sam Howell. | 2022-08-08T23:40:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mack Brown updates UNC quarterback situation | https://sports.yahoo.com/mack-brown-updates-unc-quarterback-224915765.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mack-brown-updates-unc-quarterback-224915765.html?src=rss |
As the NFL season grows closer, former LSU wideout Odell Beckham Jr is still without a home.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network recently had an update on Beckham’s status.
Rapoport pointed out how Beckham is still recovering from an ACL and could be exercising patience. Beckham might not be able to play early in the year anyway, so why not take more time to recover?
It doesn’t seem like Beckham is signing anytime soon. This would give Beckham a chance to join a contender down the stretch in good health.
The Rams have maintained interest, but there hasn’t been much smoke around other teams.
Teams like the Cowboys, Titans, or Colts could use his services. All three of those teams expect to contend but need some more depth at wide receiver.
In 14 games last year, Beckham caught 44 passes for 537 yards. He really shined in the postseason, where he had 288 yards and a couple of touchdowns.
That included a 113-yard performance in the NFC Championship game. In the Super Bowl, he put the Rams up 7-0 with a first-quarter touchdown.
In his eight NFL seasons, Beckham has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on five occasions and that total could be even higher if it weren’t for injuries.
Beckham is just 29 and could be an important part of an offense this year. | 2022-08-08T23:40:44Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL Network gives update on Odell Beckham’s status | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-network-gives-odell-beckham-230302016.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-network-gives-odell-beckham-230302016.html?src=rss |
Four Red Sox prospects make Baseball America's latest Top 100 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Four Boston Red Sox prospects cracked Baseball America's latest Top 100 list, which was unveiled on Monday.
Triston Casas unsurprisingly made the cut at No. 30. The slugging first baseman was sidelined due to injury earlier this season but has been on fire since his mid-July return. In 51 games with Triple-A Worcester this year, Casas is hitting .246 with eight homers and 15 doubles. There's a chance we see him make his Boston debut sometime in the next couple of months.
The fourth and final Red Sox prospect to make Baseball America's Top 100 is outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela. The 5-foot-8, 152-pounder has been Boston's unofficial Minor League Player of the Year this season. In 88 games between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland, he's slashing .307/.351/.557 with 17 homers, 61 RBI and 23 stolen bases while flashing an impressive glove.
Baltimore Orioles shortstop prospect Gunnar Henderson takes over as MLB's No. 1 prospect in Baseball America's rankings.
Examining biggest burning questions for Nationals’ top upper-level prospects
Nationals director of player development De Jon Watson provides updates on MacKenzie Gore, C.J. Abrams, Cade Cavalli and Cole Henry. | 2022-08-09T00:00:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | Four Red Sox prospects make Baseball America's latest Top 100 list | https://sports.yahoo.com/four-red-sox-prospects-baseball-223117192.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/four-red-sox-prospects-baseball-223117192.html?src=rss |
There will be byes in the postseason this year, and right now it looks like the first few days of October will be pretty quiet in New York. The Yankees and Mets are in position to skip the first round, along with the Astros and Dodgers, teams that know each other well. The four will be able to set their pitching up -- a nightmare for any team that gets through the first round and has to face Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer -- and get some rest for veterans.
17. White Sox (55-53): It's been an incredible bounce-back season for 36-year-old Johnny Cueto, who has a 2.91 ERA in 15 appearances. Cueto has thrown at least six innings in seven consecutive starts and has twice gone eight. He went six innings just five total times for the Giants last year.
6. Padres (61-50): So much for the budding "rivalry." The Padres have lost 17 of 19 to the Dodgers, and their latest disappointing weekend has dropped them into the third wild-card spot.
2. Mets (70-39): The baseball world needs Jacob deGrom in the playoffs. In his second start back from a lengthy IL stint, deGrom struck out 12 of the 19 batters he faced, maxed out at 101.6 mph with his fastball, and got 18 swinging strikes on the 33 sliders he threw.
The crash happened just before midnight, according to police. | 2022-08-09T00:00:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers rise, Giants slide after second-half tumble | https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-power-rankings-dodgers-rise-050129449.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-power-rankings-dodgers-rise-050129449.html?src=rss |
David Andrews reacts to Patriots' offensive struggles originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots offense has plenty of issues to work out before the team's preseason opener on Thursday.
It's been a struggle on that side of the ball so far in training camp and those woes continued in Monday's practice. Our Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry were in attendance and shared their takeaways from the session.
Perry: Latest 53-man roster projection has some changes since camp kicked off
"Patriots No. 1 offense today has been distressingly bad," Curran tweeted. "Run stuffs. Aborted plays. Would-be sacks. Distress lobs into traffic just to get ball out. Beginning to feel it’s less the new offense and more the post-(Dante Scarnecchia) cycle of OL coaches. They are perpetually overwhelmed."
Perry shared a similar review of the Patriots' offense.
"Patriots defense is running roughshod over the offense," he noted. "Highlights for that side were 'sacks' by Christian Barmore and Matt Judon during a third-down period. Offense looks broken. Can’t protect. Losing 1-on-1s. Blitzes getting through. No run game. Miscommunication on routes."
When practice mercifully came to an end, veteran center and team captain David Andrews led an offense-only huddle in an attempt to boost the group's spirits. He spoke to the media afterward about the unit's continued struggles.
"We've got to go in and correct it tomorrow and come out here and have a better day," Andrews said. "It's just part of it. It's ups and downs of training camp. Got to go in and learn from it, see what we can do better and like I said, come out here tomorrow. Can't let today or any day derail anything in the future. That's just how it goes. Wins, losses, you've just got to stay steady. Can't go up and down."
Mac Jones and the Patriots offense will look to bounce back in Tuesday's practice, which begins at 4 p.m. ET. New England will host the New York Giants for its preseason opener Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
The first installment of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns mailbag covers a wide range of topics from NIL, to success for Michael Desormeaux and more. | 2022-08-09T01:18:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | David Andrews reacts to Patriots' offensive struggles in training camp | https://sports.yahoo.com/david-andrews-reacts-patriots-offensive-001800430.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/david-andrews-reacts-patriots-offensive-001800430.html?src=rss |
The New York Jets received a scare on Monday when offensive tackle Mekhi Becton went down with an apparent right knee injury during practice. Head coach Robert Saleh addressed the media later in the day, and said that the knee was “stable” and that it does not seem like a “big deal in terms of severity.”
However, according to new reporting, Becton’s right knee injury is “more concerning” than the team believed in the aftermath of practice:
The Jets were hoping that Becton, who switched to right tackle for the 2022 season, would help solidify the offensive line in front of Zach Wilson. New York drafted the tackle in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, and he played through chest and shoulder injuries to appear in 14 games as a rookie.
However, he suffered an MCL injury to his right knee at the start of the 2021 regular season, and he was lost for the year.
Now, Jets fans have to hope for the best yet again as they await word on the status of their young right tackle.
Sal Licata savors the Mets' domination of the Braves last weekend | Baseball Night in NY
On Baseball Night in New York, after the Mets' domination of the Braves this weekend, Sal Licata savors his previous declaration that the NL East is still over. He also discards a Braves jersey amidst his celebration.
Cavan Biggio's leadoff homer (3)
Cavan Biggio belts a solo home run to right-center field, putting the Blue Jays on the board, 3-1, in the top of the 3rd inning | 2022-08-09T01:19:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mekhi Becton’s knee injury “more concerning” than first believed | https://sports.yahoo.com/mekhi-becton-knee-injury-more-000732595.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mekhi-becton-knee-injury-more-000732595.html?src=rss |
The Arizona Cardinals returned to practice at State Farm Stadium and hosted a number of players for tryouts. According to the NFL transaction report, the Cardinals brought in six defensive backs, suggesting some concern about the depth. They hosted four cornerbacks and two safeties.
CB John Brannon
Brannon is a 6-2, 195-lb cornerback who played collegiately at Western Carolina.
He was an undrafted rookie who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020. He played in one game for them and spent time on the practice squad.
He spent time in 2021 with the Panthers and, most recently, with the Bengals.
CB Maurice Canady
Canady is a 6-1, 193-lb cornerback who has been in the league since 2016. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2016 draft and, since then, has played for the Ravens, Jets and Cowboys.
He has played in 40 games, starting four times. He has 86 career tackles and an interception. He has played as many as 320 defensive snaps in a season and also has played special teams.
S Rodney Clemons
Clemons is a six-foot, 205-lb safety who played for SMU collegiately.
He spent the 2021 offseason and preseason with the Kansas City Chiefs and then spent this offseason with the Tennessee Titans.
Davis, a 5-11, 180-lb cornerback out of Hawaii, signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted rookie this offseason.
S Sean Davis
Davis entered the league as a second-round pick in 2016, selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He started for three seasons, played only one game in 2019 and as a special teamer in 2020.
He was with the Bengals, Colts and Patriots in 2021.
CB Jameson Houston
Houston, a 5-11, 199-lb cornerback out of Baylor, has played three NFL games for the Philadelphia Eagles. He spent time between the active roster and the practice squad in 2020.
He played in 2021 in the USFL for the Michigan Panthers after getting cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars. | 2022-08-09T02:54:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Cardinals bring in 6 DBs for tryout | https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinals-bring-6-dbs-tryout-015506346.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinals-bring-6-dbs-tryout-015506346.html?src=rss |
Where Deebo believes 49ers can improve to win sixth Super Bowl originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The 49ers have felt heartbreak in two of the last three NFL seasons. San Francisco knows what it takes to get to the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl, but has failed to win the franchise's sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy.
In 2020, San Francisco lost Super Bowl LIV to the Kansas City Chiefs. Then the 49ers were a game away from reaching another Super Bowl but fell in the 2022 NFC Championship Game to the Los Angeles Rams.
While speaking to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Maurice Jones-Drew at 49ers camp on Monday, wide receiver Deebo Samuel preached the basics that will allow San Francisco to come out on top rather than on the losing end.
"It comes to one play can mess up a whole game," Samuel said about what he believes can get the 49ers over the hump in championship games. "So we try to minimize those.
"We know we kind of fell one play short from going to the Super Bowl and one play short from winning the Super Bowl. So we just got to minimize the mistakes and just go out there and play and do what we do."
The 49ers also are making a switch at quarterback for the 2022 NFL season. In both of those high-stakes games that resulted in a loss, Jimmy Garoppolo was under center, but now the job belongs to second-year quarterback Trey Lance.
RELATED: Nick Bosa's dad argues 49ers star disrespected after comeback season
With Lance now the leader, the 49ers believe that perhaps their luck can change in these situations, and that the former North Dakota State product can bring a different element that sees them victorious and helps them win the franchise's sixth Super Bowl. | 2022-08-09T02:54:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | Deebo Samuel believes 49ers can 'minimize' errors to win sixth Super Bowl | https://sports.yahoo.com/deebo-samuel-believes-49ers-minimize-005222237.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/deebo-samuel-believes-49ers-minimize-005222237.html?src=rss |
Rams tight end Brycen Hopkins (88) is tacked in the first half of Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“Those three guys have played in real games — that are big-time games,” McVay said. “Whether it's the plays Brycen’s making in the Super Bowl…. And then Kendall being able to get some confidence playing as much as he did in both the NFC Championship and then even the first half of the Super Bowl.
“I think those guys picked up where they left off. We want to see them continue to improve, but we've got three guys we feel good about.”
Rams tight end Tyler Higbee catches a pass during practice. He's back after missing Super Bowl LVI because of a knee injury. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
Rams tight end Brycen Hopkins (88) participates in drills at practice. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
“They did some great things at the end of last year and hopefully got some confidence, being able to build off of that,” he said, adding. “We're going to need them this year.” | 2022-08-09T02:55:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | What makes Brycen Hopkins more than a third wheel for tight-end rich Rams | https://sports.yahoo.com/makes-brycen-hopkins-more-third-021613321.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/makes-brycen-hopkins-more-third-021613321.html?src=rss |
"The Office"—with Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, and more—remains a fan favorite show. Take this trivia quiz to see if you're an expert.
Abortion rights opponents have long been stuck on the fringes of politics in much of Western Europe. The Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. | 2022-08-09T02:55:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | Here’s the Packers’ first unofficial depth chart of the 2022 season | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-first-unofficial-depth-chart-021105154.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-first-unofficial-depth-chart-021105154.html?src=rss |
Wiggs having 'best summer' of his life after Dubs' Finals win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
After playing a pivotal role in helping the Warriors beat the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals to win their fourth championship in eight years, it's safe to say the 27-year-old is enjoying his downtime.
"It's been a different type of summer, but the best summer of my life," Wiggins said in an interview with Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. Wiggins added it's been "amazing" to go back to Mississauga and Vaughan, Ontario, with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy to see his family and friends.
He also said that he "feels great" that he was able to win a championship and change the narrative around him as a player.
Drafted No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 and then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves as the centerpiece for Kevin Love. Expectations for Wiggins to succeed and produce were high from the jump. Nicknamed "Maple Jordan," many pundits compared him to either Michael Jordan or LeBron James due to his incredible athleticism.
Despite winning Rookie of the Year in 2014-15, Wiggins was constantly said to have put up "empty stats" as the Timberwolves teams he was on either failed to reach the playoffs or were eliminated very early.
Once he was traded to the Warriors, Steve Kerr and the coaching staff were able to unlock his potential of how he could impact the game. Though his points per game have decreased slightly, he became a much-improved defender, rebounder -- especially in the playoffs -- and 3-point shooter, eventually earning him his first All-Star selection in 2022.
What's more, Wiggins isn't forced to do too much by playing alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Jordan Poole. He knows what his role is in Golden State and excels at it.
RELATED: Wiggs happy to make critics 'kick rocks' after winning title
After all that he's done to help the Warriors win a championship and change the narrative around him, Wiggins deserves a great summer. | 2022-08-09T03:03:25Z | sports.yahoo.com | Andrew Wiggins enjoying 'best summer' of his life after Warriors' NBA title | https://sports.yahoo.com/andrew-wiggins-enjoying-best-summer-000118279.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/andrew-wiggins-enjoying-best-summer-000118279.html?src=rss |
Don Montague/AP
For the second consecutive season, the Dallas Cowboys will be tested right out of the gate.
The Cowboys host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the season opener on Sunday Night Football Sept. 11 at AT&T Stadium.
A year ago, Tom Brady and the Bucs held off Dak Prescott and the Cowboys 31-29 in the season opener in Tampa Bay.
The Cowboys lost to the 49ers in the divisional round playoffs after finishing 12-5. The Bucs went 13-4 and lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Rams in the divisional round.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
When: 7:20 p.m. Sept. 11
TV: NBC/Ch. 5 (Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark)
Line: Bucs -2.5 (Over/under: 51.5)
Last meeting: They met a year ago in a wild season opener in which the Bucs held on for a 31-29 win in Tampa Bay.
We have a diagram showing the closing of the old exit ramp and the opening of the new one.
Why Patrice Bergeron is 'super excited' David Krejci is back with Bruins
After a one-year hiatus, David Krejci is returning to the Bruins, and the news has team captain Patrice Bergeron very excited. | 2022-08-09T03:03:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: TV, time, kickoff, line | https://sports.yahoo.com/dallas-cowboys-vs-tampa-bay-203533581.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dallas-cowboys-vs-tampa-bay-203533581.html?src=rss |
It looks like the Big Ten is on the verge of finalizing its new media rights deal. And according to Sports Business Journal, ESPN likely won’t be a part of it.
SBJ reported Monday night that, “barring a last-minute change of direction” in negotiations with ESPN, the Big Ten’s deal is expected to include three entities: Fox, CBS and NBC.
Fox, which has a 60% stake in Big Ten Network, would be the conference’s primary rights holder with CBS and NBC also part of the agreement.
It would mark a major shift in the media landscape as ESPN’s first deal with the Big Ten dates back to 1982. Additionally, ABC first carried Big Ten games in 1966.
The long-negotiated deal, which has been rumored to be worth in excess of $1 billion, “could be reached by the end of this week or push into next week,” per SBJ.
The Big Ten’s current media rights deal expires in 2023.
The Big Ten is close to finalizing its new media rights deal, per multiple reports. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
If ESPN is indeed out on the Big Ten negotiations, a significant portion of the network’s inventory goes by the wayside. To fill that void, ESPN could turn to the Big 12 and Pac-12.
Both conferences lost major members in realignment with Texas and Oklahoma departing the Big 12 for the SEC, and USC and UCLA leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten. Without those marquee members, particularly in the Pac-12’s case, the media rights of those conferences is nowhere near as lucrative as they once were.
Still, this has to be viewed as a positive development for the Pac-12, which began its media rights negotiating window early last month (the Big 12’s deal expires in 2025). ESPN wants live sports to air, particularly in late-night windows. The Pac-12, should it remain together, could certainly provide that with its remaining members.
The Big Ten is setting the market with this deal.
A few other thoughts:
ESPN is the exclusive rights holder of the SEC, and losing out on the Big Ten could provide further incentive to get Texas and Oklahoma into the SEC before 2025. It also makes you wonder if ESPN would have interest in pulling some strings to accelerate some sort of merger or partnership between the Pac-12 and ACC.
Would ESPN want to strike deals with the Big 12 and Pac-12, or would some of the remaining Pac-12 teams — like Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah — make more sense in an expanded Big 12? I’m not entirely sure that would make the deal more valuable.
How does this impact the TV deal for the College Football Playoff? If the CFP expands, could we be heading toward a setup that resembles the NFL playoffs with games played across multiple networks with the national title game rotating between networks on a yearly basis like the Super Bowl? The current CFP contract expires in 2026.
Does NBC’s involvement sway Notre Dame one way or the other? We all know the Big Ten would love to add Notre Dame, which has long retained its independence. Will the fact that the Big Ten now extends to the West Coast make joining the conference more appealing to the Irish brass?
WATCH: Badgers QB Graham Mertz finds Skyler Bell in the end-zone: | 2022-08-09T03:29:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | Here's how your college football TV routine can change with Big Ten's reported brewing media deal | https://sports.yahoo.com/heres-how-your-college-football-tv-routine-will-change-with-big-tens-reported-brewing-media-deal-025521582.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/heres-how-your-college-football-tv-routine-will-change-with-big-tens-reported-brewing-media-deal-025521582.html?src=rss |
There is only one week left in the WNBA regular season and not one team is locked into a postseason seed yet. Even the four games on Sunday didn't set anything into place solidly into place.
Yahoo Sports tracked the games and their impact on the playoff picture. The season ends on Sunday, Aug 14 and the playoffs tip off on Aug. 17.
Monday game
Wings 86, Liberty 77
As of Monday at 10 p.m. ET. Team (record), games back, x - clinched berth; o - eliminated
2. Las Vegas Aces (23-10), 2 GB - x
6. Dallas Wings (17-16), 8 GB - x
8. Phoenix Mercury (14-19), 11 GB
9. New York Liberty (13-20), 12 GB (1 GB of playoff spot)
10. Minnesota Lynx (13-20), 12 GB (1 GB of playoff spot)
11. Los Angeles Sparks (13-20), 12 GB (1 GB of playoff spot)
12. Indiana Fever (5-29), 20.5 GB - o
Wings surge past Liberty to clinch playoff spot
Sabrina Ionescu came close, but it wasn't quite enough on Monday night in Dallas.
The Wings, despite trailing at the end of the third quarter, mounted a big 14-0 run that spanned nearly four minutes late in the quarter to take their nine-point win — which marked their fifth straight and officially clinches a playoff spot.
Ionescu dropped a game-high 32 points and seven rebounds for the Liberty, but she was the only starter to score more than five points. Only Marine Johannes joined her in double figures after she put up 19 points off the bench.
Marina Mabrey led Dallas with 31 points and four rebounds while shooting 11-of-18 from the field, and Allisha Gray added 18 points. The Wings held New York to just 13 points in the first and fourth quarters.
The two teams will run it back on Wednesday. The Liberty are just a single game back from a playoff spot, too, making that contest even more critical.
Aces gain ground over Sun, Storm with win
Las Vegas Aces' Kelsey Plum reacts after scoring during the the WNBA Commissioner's Cup basketball game against the Chicago Sky Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum hit a wide-open corner 3 with under 30 seconds left to all but officially seal the 89-81 win against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Sunday. The Aces are 2-1 in the season series. These two will meet a final time in Las Vegas a week from Sunday on the final day of the regular season.
The win is huge for the Aces since the Sky won earlier in the day. They’ll stay two games back of Chicago and more importantly gain ground on the Sun and Storm for the No. 2 seed.
The game was Sue Bird’s final regular-season contest in Seattle and potentially her final one in Seattle of her career, depending on how the playoff picture paints out. She finished with nine points, six assists, four rebounds and a steal.
It was also a highly anticipated third matchup between leading MVP candidates Breanna Stewart of the Storm and A’ja Wilson of the Aces.
Stewart scored at least 30 points for a second consecutive game, the second time in her career she’s strung along such games. The 2018 MVP had 35 points, 10 rebounds and two assists. She hit 4-of-5 3-point attempts and made 11-of-15 free throws. Tina Charles, the 2012 MVP, scored 19 points with nine rebounds.
Wilson was consistent from start to finish for the Aces. The 2020 MVP paced the Aces with 29 points on 13-of-24 shooting with six rebounds. Plum scored 16. Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young scored 15 each.
It was another contest between top-four teams in the ABC doubleheader. The Aces held the advantage most of the contest and kept the Storm at bay every time they came within a possession. The Storm were without head coach Noelle Quinn, who entered health and safety protocols on Saturday. Assistant Pokey Chatman, a former WNBA head coach, served in the interim.
Sparks upset Mystics to keep playoff hopes alive
The Los Angeles Sparks upset the Washington Mystics, 79-76, to keep their playoff hopes alive and at least temporarily jump the Minnesota Lynx in playoff positioning. The loss means a missed opportunity for the Mystics to move up into the No. 4 seed with the Storm's loss across the country.
Brittney Sykes led Los Angeles with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists. Katie Lou Samuelson and Nneka Ogwumike scored 15 each. The team was without Chiney Ogwumike, who was listed on the injury report for a face injury.
The Mystics won on the boards, 40-29, but were 3 of 16 from 3-point range. Natasha Cloud attempted a last-second 3-point toss and wanted a foul, but it was called off.
Cloud called it out on Twitter immediately after the game. The Sparks were 5 of 13 and snapped a six-game losing skid.
Ariel Atkins and Myisha Hines-Allen each put up 20 points and six assists in the losing effort. Rookie center Shakira Austin had 16 points and was 6 of 9 from the floor. Former MVP Elena Delle Donne was back in the lineup after missing the last game for rest. She had eight points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists. Though she struggled at 2 of 12 from the floor.
The Sparks are one game back of the final playoff spot and only one game separates them from No. 7 seed Atlanta. They still have to play two against the Sun starting on Tuesday. The Mystics have the good fortune of ending the season with two games against the Indiana Fever.
The Sky hit a barrage of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to complete the four-game season sweep of the Connecticut Sun, 94-91, at Wintrust Arena on Sunday afternoon. Emma Meesseman hit the game-winning 3 on an assist by Candace Parker with 28 seconds left that preserved the Sky's two-game cushion at the top of the postseason standings no matter what happened with the Aces.
The Sky's 17-point lead evaporated, but they made the right shots at the end of the game to win another against a top-four contender. All five Sky starters were in double-digits, led by Courtney Vandersloot's 20 points, five assists and four steals. She hit 3-off-6 3-point attempts. Parker had an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double. She and Allie Quigley had two blocks each.
The Sky will have to stay sharp in the last week to clinch the top seed, a much nicer situation than the No. 6 seed they rode to the 2021 championship. They host the Storm (1-1 season series) on Tuesday in their regular-season home finale. Chicago hits the road for the Aces (1-1) on Thursday and Mercury (2-0) on Sunday, Aug. 14 to close the season.
Six Sun players were in double digits on Sunday, led by DeWanna Bonner's 18 points, six assists and four rebounds. Her final deep 3 to tie the game and send it to overtime bounced off the rim. Reigning MVP Jonquel Jones had a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double. Head coach Curt Miller missed the game while back home in Pennsylvania for his mother's funeral.
Napheesa Collier makes 2022 debut
Napheesa Collier made her 2022 debut on Sunday night when the Minnesota Lynx beat the Atlanta Dream 81-71. Collier is coming off maternity leave after giving birth to her first child, Mila, in late May.
The Olympic gold medalist and 2019 Rookie of the Year made her return to the court 10 1/2 weeks after giving birth. She moved back to Minneapolis days before the All-Star break and returned to practices the week out of the break. Collier, 25, has said repeatedly she wanted to try and make it back to play with Sylvia Fowles in the standout center's final season. Fowles announced her retirement last offseason.
Collier started the game, and finished with six points, two rebounds and one assist in 21 minutes.
Minnesota Lynx Napheesa Collier makes her 2022 season debut and first bucket after giving birth to her daughter less than three months ago 👏pic.twitter.com/7FYZacvESC
The Lynx led the entire contest on Sunday, and used a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to push them to the win — their third in four games. Kayla McBride led Minnesota with 20 points and six assists, and Moriah Jefferson added 18 points.
The Lynx need help to move back into a playoff spot after another rough start this season. The team also dealt with injuries to Fowles, Damiris Dantas and Natalie Achonwa.
They have three games remaining: at Mercury, vs. Storm, at Sun. Collier has averaged 14.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists with the Lynx and is their building block of the future. Fowles is the last of the Lynx players who contributed to the franchise's four titles in seven years.
What's at stake this week
The top five teams are locked into playoff spots and none can drop lower than the fifth seed, per the ESPN halftime broadcast this week. The Sky are the No. 1 seed riding a nice two-game cushion after the Wings took down the Aces on Thursday night.
The top four seeds host the first two games of the best-of-three first-round series beginning Aug. 17. The Board of Governors approved a new playoff format last offseason that is three rounds without any byes or single eliminations. The bracket puts the winners of the No. 1 vs. No. 8 game and No. 4 vs. No. 5 game on one side of the bracket, and the 2-7/3-6 winners on the other.
There are six teams who are battling for three spots. Those three are changing almost nightly. Friday morning the list was, in order, Wings-Liberty-Dream; on Monday morning it was Wings-Dream-Mercury.
Despite not having Diana Taurasi (right quad) or Skylar Diggins-Smith (non-COVID illness), the Mercury defeated the Liberty, 76-62, on Saturday night to move back into the final playoff spot and stay one-half game ahead of New York. Hours prior, the Wings, who had Arike Ogunbowale back, outlasted the Fever in overtime to keep a comfortable lead for the No. 6 spot. | 2022-08-09T04:26:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | WNBA playoff race 2022 tracker: In doubleheader battle of top-4 teams, No. 1 Sky and No. 2 Aces stay atop standings | https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba-playoff-race-2022-tracker-storm-sue-bird-finale-playoff-positioning-sky-aces-last-spot-140605866.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba-playoff-race-2022-tracker-storm-sue-bird-finale-playoff-positioning-sky-aces-last-spot-140605866.html?src=rss |
Banks improving daily in hopes of Year 2 breakout for 49ers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
With the departure of Laken Tomlinson in free agency this offseason, the 49ers now need second-year guard Aaron Banks to fill the void left on the offensive line.
And the 24-year-old appears to be up for the challenge.
Banks spoke to reporters after training camp practice on Friday and detailed the strides he has made since being drafted by San Francisco in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
“I think there was a lot of growth,” Banks said of his rookie season last year, which saw him on the field for just five regular-season snaps. “There was a lot of room to grow, and I just kind of came in each day trying to get better, and that’s still the same mindset.
“It didn’t go like what I thought it was going to go like. It didn’t go like what a bunch of people probably thought it was going to go like.”
The 49ers went with Daniel Brunskill over then-rookie Banks at right guard last season after he failed to win the starting job. Coach Kyle Shanahan has previously said the team felt Banks was ready to start at the midpoint of the 2021 season, but then a winning streak kept Brunskill in the position.
Banks took the perceived disappointment of his rookie season “with a grain of salt” and moved on, he said, coming into OTAs this spring a new man. He spent the offseason at the 49ers facility and worked on changing his body into one that would fit in with San Francisco’s zone blocking scheme.
He’s now 13 pounds lighter than he was on the day he was drafted, and moving back to the left side -- where he played at Notre Dame -- in Tomlinson’s absence has helped him feel more comfortable heading into his second season, he said.
“I just wanted to be physically a better player,” Banks said of his offseason conditioning. “I wanted to tighten up and be stronger and be fast, try to be quicker overall. Just be a better athlete, be stronger.”
The 49ers’ offensive line is more active than most under Shanahan’s scheme, and that athleticism will come in handy as Banks prepares to contribute at the NFL level.
“The more you're in it, the more comfortable you’re going to be with it,” Banks said of the scheme. “I think our room has a bunch of athletes, guys who aren’t just big and can move people, but can actually move their own bodies in space.
“The more you’re in it, the better you’re going to be off. I think this year will definitely be a better year for that.”
Banks figures to line up next to left tackle Trent Williams as part of the starting offense, and he noted the All-Pro has helped him with tips and tricks to become a better player. In early June, Williams said Banks had “transformed” his body and applauded his mental toughness.
RELATED: Where Deebo believes 49ers can improve to win sixth Super Bowl
That mentality has continued into training camp, where the guard continues to impress opposite San Francisco’s top-ranked defense.
And with Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season just over a month away, the 49ers Faithful can rest assured they’re getting the best version of Banks yet.
“Really just getting better each day,” Banks said. “Not taking these days for granted.” | 2022-08-09T04:30:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | Aaron Banks details 'a lot of growth' from 49ers rookie season to now | https://sports.yahoo.com/aaron-banks-details-lot-growth-035209660.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/aaron-banks-details-lot-growth-035209660.html?src=rss |
As of now, three dates and opponents (Spurs, Raptors, Heat) for Houston’s preseason schedule in October 2022 have been announced. At least one more is still to come.
Two-time NBA champion and former Warrior Quinn Cook reportedly could return to NBA action after the Kings agreed to sign him to a one-year contract. | 2022-08-09T07:37:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ben Simmons left Nets group chat after being asked if he was playing vs. Boston | https://sports.yahoo.com/ben-simmons-left-nets-group-065410702.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ben-simmons-left-nets-group-065410702.html?src=rss |
A year later, he's headed down to the minor leagues as the Cubs optioned Schwindel to Triple-A Iowa after Monday's 6-3 win over the Nationals.
In 56 games last season, he hit .342/.389/.613 with 13 homers and a 165 OPS+ as Anthony Rizzo's replacement at first base post-trade deadline.
Nelson Velázquez's home run (6)
Nelson Velázquez barrels his sixth homer of the year deep to left field to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning | 2022-08-09T09:08:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | Cubs option Frank Schwindel after Franmil Reyes addition | https://sports.yahoo.com/cubs-option-frank-schwindel-franmil-040215764.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cubs-option-frank-schwindel-franmil-040215764.html?src=rss |
You know college football is just around the corner when we are overreacting to the release of the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. That’s exactly what went down on Monday as we started our week with the first look at how the coaches cast their collective ballots for the start of the 2022 college football season. Alabama, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, took the top spot in the ranking and few would care to argue that placement. But Penn State being left entirely out of the top 25 may have caused some commotion around these parts.
Over the years, I have had some personal gripes with the coaches poll on a nearly weekly basis, and I do not see myself getting over it too soon. But perhaps the season will prove the coaches to be more accurate than I care to give credit when all is said and done. But there are some minor issues to be addressed with the release of this year’s preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
Starting with a look inside the top 10, the coaches are definitely high on defending Big Ten champion Michigan (No. 6) and Notre Dame (No. 5). A preseason top 10 ranking for Michigan was to be expected as the Wolverines are fresh off a Big Ten title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff. And Michigan should be a pretty darn good team once again in 2022! But the biggest reason why Michigan may finish the season in the top 10 will be heavily reliant on the schedule that features no stiff challenges in non-conference replay but does include road trips to Iowa and Ohio State. And considering the talent that is lost from last season’s roster, especially on defense, navigating through that schedule and getting some close games going their way as often last year feels rather unlikely.
Notre Dame could struggle to get out of September without two losses with tricky road games at Ohio State and North Carolina helping to start off the season. And considering the Irish will still have to play Clemson and USC, a four-loss season is not at all out of the question. And that won’t be close to a No. 5 ranking at the end of the season.
The preseason polls can sometimes follow the momentum of the previous season a little too strongly as well. Case in point, Michigan State (No. 14), and Pittsburgh (No. 16). The Spartans had a great thing going last season but whether or not that can carry on for another season remains to be seen. And Pitt lost its Heisman Trophy-finalist quarterback to the NFL and its Biletnikoff Award wide receiver to USC. And the schedule? Well, the Panthers could be off to an 0-2 start just as likely as they could be 2-0 with games against West Virginia and Tennessee to start the season. Both games are at home, but the Panthers will have to show the offensive firepower can keep going without two monsters from the offense in 2021 available.
A team ranked too low? Ole Miss feels like a good bet. The Rebels could be a fun team to watch this season. Ole Miss coming in at No. 24 to start the season feels like a mild low-balling of what Ole Miss could do this season. With the schedule Ole Miss has, the Rebels could potentially be walking into LSU in late October with a record of 7-0.
It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that a couple of other teams are generating some preseason buzz. Miami, with a new head coach in former Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal (former Canes coach Manny Diaz is now Penn State’s defensive coordinator, of course), is ranked No. 17 by the coaches after a 7-5 season in 2021. And Texas, coming off a 5-7 season last fall, is ranked No. 18. The Longhorns even received one first-place vote. Let’s chalk that up to the Manning influence, even though Arch Manning won’t be playing for the Longhorns until 2023.
You can review the full USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll here and weigh in on what teams are overranked or underranked.
Kevin Harvick snapped a 65-race winless streak to keep Ford's five-race win streak at Michigan International Speedway alive and well. | 2022-08-09T09:25:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | What the USA TODAY Sports AFCAA Coaches Poll got wrong in the preseason poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/usa-today-sports-afcaa-coaches-080019234.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/usa-today-sports-afcaa-coaches-080019234.html?src=rss |
On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced they had signed linebacker Ron’dell Carter and to make room for him on the training camp roster waived/injured linebacker T.D. Moultry.
Pittsburgh makes the fifth roster Carter has been on since coming into the league in 2020. Carter was originally signed by the Dallas Cowboys and has played for the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts as well.
Moultry was one of the team’s undrafted free agents in 2021 out of Auburn. The team plays its first preseason game this week against the Seattle Seahawks.
Ukrtelecom to sue Russia for $12.3 million as compensation for losses
Ukraine’s monopolist telephone company, Ukrtelecom, will file lawsuits against Russia seeking UAH 450 million ($12.3 million) in compensation for losses in the temporarily occupied territories, Ihor Yaremchuk, the company’s director of strategy and business development, said in an interview with SPEKA online media platform on Aug. 8. | 2022-08-09T09:56:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | Steelers sign OLB Ron’Dell Carter, waive T.D. Moultry | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-sign-olb-ron-dell-041548466.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-sign-olb-ron-dell-041548466.html?src=rss |
Lack of depth in the Nationals' farm system is hurting the slumping Red Wings
Andrew Stevenson and the Wings are riding an incredible 17-game losing streak.
Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy is at a loss for words trying to comprehend what has happened to his club.
The Wings’ problems began on a disastrous trip to St. Paul, Minnesota where they lost all six games in that series by a cumlative 44-18, and they have never recovered. That losing streak eventually reached eight which knocked them out of first place, and a couple weeks later they had another terrible series where they dropped five of six at home to Worcester.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester Red Wings 17-game losing streak sets franchise record | 2022-08-09T10:18:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | Lack of depth in the Nationals' farm system is hurting the slumping Red Wings | https://sports.yahoo.com/lack-depth-nationals-farm-system-090132232.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/lack-depth-nationals-farm-system-090132232.html?src=rss |
The worst may be a reality for the New York Jets regarding right tackle Mekhi Becton.
Connor Hughes of SNY reports that, as a result of his knee injury suffered Monday, Becton’s 2022 season could be over. Hughes reports the injury is to his cap and patella.
#Jets LT Mekhi Becton's injury is to his knee cap & patella, sources tell @SNYtv.
The additional tests are to determine just how severe those injuries are. The fear is that there might be more damage than that.
The day started off so promising for Becton. He was in the middle of a strong camp and was looking settled in at the right tackle position. After falling backward on a run play, Becton limped off the field.
It was later thought that the knee injury was not that serious. “Stable” was a word used by head coach Robert Saleh to describe the injury. Then came the MRI and it turned out the injury was much more severe than initially thought.
This would mark the second straight season Becton has suffered a serious knee injury. His MCL sprain suffered in Week 1 last season kept him out for the remainder of the season. Becton is now looking at the possibility of having played one game out of 34 in two seasons and has yet to play a full season in his career. He missed two games with a shoulder sprain in 2020.
The Jets have to decide on Becton’s fifth-year option next offseason and with the option now fully guaranteed the moment it is exercised, the Jets have a tough decision to make, but you can make an argument they will decline the option. | 2022-08-09T10:39:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: Mekhi Becton’s season could be over | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-mekhi-becton-season-could-015157030.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-mekhi-becton-season-could-015157030.html?src=rss |
TEXAS AT NO. 1?: It's not the only crazy vote in the season's first Top 25
“Well, I don't like to compare players, but to have two players that make such a significant impact on our team as those two guys, I don't recall ever having a circumstance like that,” Saban said, referring to quarterback Bryce Young and linebacker Will Anderson. “We've had some great impact players, but never one on offense, one on defense, of the caliber that these guys have been able to play on a consistent basis.”
In fact, John Talty of AL.com reports in a new book “The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban,” that he seriously considered a transition to ESPN’s “College GameDay" after that season. Though it’s unclear how real Saban’s interest was, there’s some evidence that he also considered replacing Mack Brown at Texas.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama's Nick Saban rules college football with retirement far away
Alabama's reputation serves it well when it comes to preseason polls.
At Alabama, Nick Saban has repositioned what a rebuilding season can look like. That's Kirby Smart's next task for Georgia football. | 2022-08-09T11:14:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ranked No. 1 again, Alabama's Nick Saban doesn't seem to be slowing down at 70 | Opinion | https://sports.yahoo.com/ranked-no-1-again-alabamas-100910362.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ranked-no-1-again-alabamas-100910362.html?src=rss |
With a new coaching staff, a new offense and a new quarterback, it would make sense for the Denver Broncos to give their first-team offense some reps in Saturday’s preseason opener.
Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett hasn’t revealed his plans for playing time yet, though, and it’s possible that quarterback Russell Wilson might be held out against the Dallas Cowboys.
Hackett said last month that “whoever needs to go out there and who we see fit — that’s how we’ll do it” when asked how the team will divide preseason playing time.
“I look back at all the history of preseason games, and I know that winning a preseason game doesn’t help you get to the playoffs,” Hackett said on July 27. “I always keep that mindset. Preseason is for evaluation and watching guys do basic things and just play football.”
More recently, Hackett said on Aug. 6 that “every player is a little bit different, [and] every situation is a little bit different.”
“In the end, winning a preseason game — preseason is always hard on a coach because you win one, you feel great, but it means nothing,” the coach said. “You lose one and you feel like crap. That’s just how it is.
“As a coach, looking at the full picture, I want to do what is right for the team. That’s all that I care about. What happens on the field, we just want to get great evaluations on whoever is out there.”
The “full picture” includes trying to get to the regular season with your starters healthy. Denver’s first-team players — including Wilson — will undoubtedly play in preseason, it’s just a question of how much. It’s not yet clear how much — if at all — they will play on Saturday. | 2022-08-09T12:06:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Will the Broncos play their starters in preseason opener? | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-play-starters-preseason-opener-110014844.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-play-starters-preseason-opener-110014844.html?src=rss |
The Denver Broncos are set to host the Dallas Cowboys for a joint practice on the final day of training camp.
Thursday’s session will give both teams a chance to practice against new formations and players ahead of their preseason showdown on Saturday.
“I’ve talked to coach [Mike] McCarthy,” Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said last week. “I’ve known him my whole life. I’m so excited for them to come in here. Great friend, great family friend. I have known him forever. We’ve been talking quite a bit. We want to make sure it’s a great practice, just a lot like what we’re doing here.
“The brilliance of that is you get to see somebody different, and you get to see a defensive look that’s different. We’ve been going against these guys over and over and over again and we just want to see a different font structure and different coverage aspects from that standpoint. I’m excited about it and it’ll be a great practice.”
This will mark the third time Denver has held joint training camp practices with Dallas. The Cowboys are one of six teams who have practiced with the Broncos in the past ahead of a preseason game.
Freeport, Illinois, native Steve McShane earned invite to the XFL Draft Pool, expects to be drafted into the pro football league this fall. | 2022-08-09T12:06:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Broncos set to host Cowboys for joint practice this week | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-set-host-cowboys-joint-100044796.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-set-host-cowboys-joint-100044796.html?src=rss |
On Monday, the New York Giants officially signed veteran offensive lineman Eric Smith and terminated the contract of offensive lineman Matt Gono.
Gono had missed time recently due to a neck injury that some believe may be career-threatening. He had been on a roster exemption but that expired, leaving the Giants in a precarious position.
Despite the signing of Smith, the Giants continue to focus heavily on their lacking O-Line depth.
“I think Joe (Schoen) and his staff — the scouting department — are going to look at every avenue to try to improve that situation. You obviously can’t, you don’t have a crystal ball when that stuff happens,” head coach Brian Daboll told reporters on Sunday.
Following Monday’s practice, the Giants once again held tryouts for a pair of offensive linemen. This time, they were tackle Vadal Alexander and center Brayden Patton.
The 28-year-old Alexander was a seventh-round pick of the Oakland Raiders in the 2016 NFL draft. After his first two seasons, Alexander was suspended for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances and later waived for failing to report to training camp.
Alexander was out of football for nearly five years before joining the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers earlier this year. However, he missed some time throughout the season due to an arthritis flare-up.
The 24-year-old Patton went undrafted out of NIU in April and like Alexander, later joined the Maulers and spent a season in the USFL. He was named Second-Team All-MAC by the coaches in 2021.
Neither were immediately signed to a contract.
Giants sign OT Eric Smith
The New York Giants have signed veteran offensive tackle Eric Smith, who was with the team in 2019.
Pete Rose dismissed questions about his first appearance on the field in Philadelphia since the franchise scrapped 2017 plans to honor him. | 2022-08-09T12:07:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants host Vadal Alexander, Brayden Patton for tryouts | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-host-vadal-alexander-brayden-095512111.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-host-vadal-alexander-brayden-095512111.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens signed Ja’Wuan James to a two-year contract in 2021 after being released by the Denver Broncos for tearing his achilles outside of the team’s training facility. By signing with Baltimore for two years, it gave James a chance to train and learn the system in 2021, with the hopes that he’d be ready for the 2022 season.
After a training camp practice, James was asked about joining the Ravens in 2021. He said that being in the building last year was part of a plan to help him build chemistry with his teammates on the offensive line, as well as learn some of the playbook ahead of time so he wouldn’t have to start from square one once he returned to full strength.
.@JawuanJames70 on coming in last year: pic.twitter.com/MgztvuOicl
“Yes, that was part of the plan. When I signed here, that’s what they talked about – getting the chance to come in, build some camaraderie with the O-line, learn some of the plays ahead of time, so when we got to this phase, it wouldn’t be like I was a fresh face or just [starting] to get to know the guys [and] getting to know the plays”
Teams can never have enough depth on the offensive line, and with Ronnie Stanley currently working his way back from ankle surgery, James has been rotating in at the left tackle spot. The former Dolphins and Broncos offensive lineman is a veteran who has proven himself in the NFL, and he will be an important piece of Baltimore’s line in 2022 whether it be as a starter or as key depth. | 2022-08-09T12:08:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens OT Ja’Wuan James discusses how being with team in 2021 has helped him in 2022 | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-ot-ja-wuan-james-110429455.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-ot-ja-wuan-james-110429455.html?src=rss |
Monday was the day the New York Giants sent their three coordinators to the podium to face the media. The one coordinator that everyone wanted to hear from was defensive guru Wink Martindale, a man who has built a solid resume in his 15-plus years in the NFL.
Martindale started by saying how excited he was and outlined his plan for molding his defense the next few weeks.
“I’m happy with where we are at right now defensively. I think personnel and (head coach Brian Daboll) has done a great job of gathering some smart, tough, and dependable players,” Martindale said. “We’re going to be on the process of the next three preseason games finding out who’s the smartest, who’s the toughest and who’s the most dependable — because all three of those factors are what we’re going to build on. I like where we are at.”
One unit Martindale is focusing on is the secondary where he gets to tinker with his versatile safeties Julian Love and Xavier McKinney.
“I mean those guys you can move around are fun to coach because the number one thing is how smart he (Love) is — how football smart he is. He understands little things and it’s a valuable piece to have when you’re putting a defense together in this league,” he said.
McKinney is currently wearing the defensive headset and calling the defensive signals. In most NFL defenses, a linebacker usually draws that assignment. Martindale hands it off to a safety but he said that could change.
“Well, I don’t think that’s written in stone yet. I’ve always thought that to survive in this league you’ve got look at everything and just because something’s always been done one way, it doesn’t mean that’s the way you have to do it,” he said. “That could change week to week on who we have wear the green dot. The biggest thing is to get them all communicating. If you look out there it’s not just X, it’s Julian Love has one, then we mix in some linebackers and things like that. You just reminded me I’ve got to turn in the green dot list for the New England game, thank you.”
Another thing the Giants have going for them is their defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson, who drew praise from Martindale.
“I think he’s the best secondary coach there is in the league. I love our first group of secondary players and now we’ve just got to keep building on depth of that secondary,” he said. “I love how they compete; I love how they practice and I’m excited to see them play against another team. It’s going to be fun to watch. That’ll be a process and I’ll keep you all up to date on that. I really love how they compete.”
A fundraiser for a woman who lost an “entire lifetime of possessions” when her house was hit by a car driven by actress Anne Heche, sparking a fire that nearly killed them both, has made thousands of pounds in 24 hours. Heche, 53, the star of films including Donnie Brasco and Six Days, Seven Nights, was taken to hospital after her Mini Clubman smashed into the Los Angeles home of Lynne Mishele. It took firefighters more than an hour to extinguish the blaze.
The board of Skyworks Solutions, Inc. ( NASDAQ:SWKS ) has announced that it will be paying its dividend of $0.62 on the... | 2022-08-09T12:08:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | Wink Martindale praises Giants secondary: ‘Love how they compete’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/wink-martindale-praises-giants-secondary-105522882.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/wink-martindale-praises-giants-secondary-105522882.html?src=rss |
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joshua Dobbs watches from the sideline during the NFL football team's football training camp in Berea on Monday.
"You just be yourself every day and come out and compete," Dobbs said. "I mean, that's really where it starts. Just come out and compete and play hard, be yourself. I've played quarterback for a long time, so whenever you step in there, everyone wants you to act as if you're the starter and you plan to perform and compete and execute as if you're the starter. When you're in the huddle, you look the guys in the eyes. You tell them what you want, clear and direct. Off the field, in your interactions with your teammates, you just be yourself. That's where it starts."
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' Josh Dobbs finds different perspective from sideline | 2022-08-09T12:12:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | 'You get some perspective': Browns' No. 3 QB Josh Dobbs gains different feel from sideline | https://sports.yahoo.com/perspective-browns-no-3-qb-100102076.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/perspective-browns-no-3-qb-100102076.html?src=rss |
However, the Crimson Tide will have to maneuver through one of the most difficult college football schedules, including a brutal six-game stretch of at Arkansas, vs. Texas A&M, at Tennessee, vs. Mississippi State, at LSU and at Ole Miss. Alabama will also face preseason top-25 Texas Longhorns who received one vote to be ranked No. 1 in the Coaches Poll.
Even though this may be one of the best Alabama rosters of all time, they will certainly be tested. Here are the five games that could give Alabama the most trouble.
@ Ole Miss (Nov. 12)
The last time the Tide traveled to Oxford, Alabama escaped with a 63-48 victory, Alabama fans questioned Pete Golding’s ability to serve as the team’s defensive coordinator. Ole Miss is the last game in the brutal six-game stretch that includes Arkansas, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Mississippi State, LSU, and the Rebels. Lane Kiffin might pull off the upset if Alabama lets up at all or is caught sleepwalking.
The Aggies are probably the most talented team that Alabama will face in 2022. Fortunately for the Tide, this one is in Tuscaloosa. Texas A&M is coming off an upset over Alabama and I think Coach Saban will have his guys much more prepared this time around. The NIL feud this summer was fuel on the fire.
@ Texas (Sep. 10)
The Crimson Tide travel to Austin to take on former offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian and his Texas Longhorns. In what will be the first real test of the season, Alabama faces off against one of the most talented teams in the country, but still, only in year two, Sark is trying to get the pieces together. If he can fit them together by Sept. 10, he may be able to shock the college football world.
@ Arkansas (Oct. 1)
Arkansas gave the Tide all they could handle in Tuscaloosa in 2021 when Alabama narrowly escaped by seven points. Now, the team will travel to Fayetteville, which might be a tall task for Bryce Young and the rest of the squad. Arkansas returns one of the best defenses in the SEC as well as their standout quarterback, K.J. Jefferson.
@ Tennessee (Oct. 15)
Josh Heupel and his Volunteers finally seem like they seem to be headed in the right direction, and catching them on the road may be tough. To make matters worse, the Third Weekend in October is the weekend after hosting Texas A&M which has been circled on the calendar for almost a year now. In a rivalry game, anything can happen.
Hear what Arkansas CB coach Dominique Bowman and players had to say after the Hogs' fourth practice of fall camp.
The junior running back has responsibilities within the room as he nurses an injury sustained in January
Russian pleas for talks are a ruse, Ukrainian official says
Russia is not sincere in its calls for negotiations with Ukraine, and is instead looking for a badly-needed lull in hostilities in order to refine its military strategy, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said in a BBC interview on Aug. 9. | 2022-08-09T13:03:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | Crimson Tide’s five toughest matchups in 2022 | https://sports.yahoo.com/crimson-tide-five-toughest-matchups-122235334.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/crimson-tide-five-toughest-matchups-122235334.html?src=rss |
"A lot of stuff happened," he said. "Stuff just fell apart. I had to make a decision to leave because the football program was shutting down. We had a lot of great players."
Now he's feeling comfortable at Serra. He ran track during the spring, and Altenberg remembers seeing him run next to a tiny opponent in the 100 meters.
He told Rhaney jokingly, "A little veer to the right and no way he's passing you."
"I just come out and play," he said.
Cincere Rhaney, Gardena Serra, 5-10, 220, Jr. Let's see who can bring down the locomotive | 2022-08-09T13:03:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Serra running back Cincere Rhaney ready to take on all challengers | https://sports.yahoo.com/serra-running-back-cincere-rhaney-113051412.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/serra-running-back-cincere-rhaney-113051412.html?src=rss |
In light of the Mekhi Becton injury, the Jets made a few roster moves to help with their offensive line depth.
The Jets signed veteran offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch and undrafted rookie Chris Glaser. The team released offensive tackle Parker Ferguson and defensive lineman Hamilcar Rashed Jr.
With Becton sidelined indefinitely, the Jets continue to add bodies on the OL. In addition to Caleb Benenoch, they have signed Chris Glaser (UDFA, Chiefs, 2022). Both worked out yesterday for the #Jets. Released: OT Parker Ferguson + Hamilcar Rashed. #Jets
We touched on Benenoch yesterday. He’s been in the league since 2016, originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, starting all 16 games in 2018. He also started one game last season for the New Orleans Saints. Benenoch has experience at guard and tackle.
Glaser is an undrafted rookie out of Virginia who was in minicamp for the Kansas City Chiefs. Glaser (6’4″, 300 pounds) started all 12 games at guard last season for the Cavaliers and started 44 games in his career.
Ferguson was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Air Force by the Jets in 2021 but spent the season on injured reserve. Rashed was also an undrafted free agent signing by the Jets in 2021 out of Oregon State, spending most of the season on the practice squad. | 2022-08-09T13:47:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jets add two offensive linemen, cut one offensive and one defensive lineman | https://sports.yahoo.com/jets-add-two-offensive-linemen-130933777.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jets-add-two-offensive-linemen-130933777.html?src=rss |
Micron Technology said Tuesday it plans to invest $40 billion in the U.S. through the end of the decade. “With the anticipated grants andcredits made possible by the CHIPS and Science Act, this investment willenable the world’s most advanced memory manufacturing in America,” the company said in a statement. Congress at the end of last month passed a $280 billion bill intended to boost U.S. competitiveness with China in technology, including $52 billion to invest in chip manufacturing.
I have no idea just how good Sam Horn is going to be for Missouri. But he is the future of Missouri football. | 2022-08-09T13:47:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | Red Sox' Jarren Duran explains what led to beef with Royals fans | https://sports.yahoo.com/red-sox-jarren-duran-explains-124000884.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/red-sox-jarren-duran-explains-124000884.html?src=rss |
'I got choked out by a parent after a game. My life has been threatened. A couple weeks ago, I had to walk off the field because it got so bad.'
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., representing a wide range of potentially lethal heart conditions. The most common type of heart disease—and the number one cause of heart attack—is coronary artery disease (CAD), which is typically caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries. Every year, over three million people are diagnosed with this life-threatening condition. However, despite its well-established threat to public health, many people are still unaware of its symptoms | 2022-08-09T14:09:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dan Campbell on Jerry Jacobs: ‘We have to rein him in’, ahead of schedule on ACL recovery | https://sports.yahoo.com/dan-campbell-jerry-jacobs-rein-122640275.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dan-campbell-jerry-jacobs-rein-122640275.html?src=rss |
Can Lane Johnson really be better than ever? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Maybe it’s because we spend so much time focused on the future Hall of Famer who plays center. Maybe it’s because we’re so dazzled by the stud left tackle who never played organized football before two years ago. Maybe it’s because we’re so wrapped up in the intriguing second-round prospects the Eagles drafted the last two years.
Whatever the reason, it seems like Lane Johnson never gets his just due. He’s kind of the forgotten man on the Eagles’ offensive line, but after finally getting his ankle healthy after 3 ½ nightmarish years, Johnson is having a monster training camp, and as he goes into his 10th season, he promises the best is yet to come.
“I feel like my best football is coming,” Johnson said Saturday. “I feel like this age, next two years, will be prime.”
Johnson turned 32 in May, and although he made his third straight Pro Bowl in 2019, this is the first time he’s been totally healthy since he first hurt his ankle in London in October of 2018.
How good is Johnson when he’s healthy?
“Lane to me is one of the best tackles in the world,” Nick Sirianni said Saturday. “He's the best right tackle in the world. To be able to say that about guys on your roster, that's a cool thing to have.
“’Lane, you are the best right tackle in the world.’ That's how my eyes see it, that's how people in our building see it, that's how our offensive coaches see it. The defensive staff sees it the same way.”
The first few years of Johnson’s career were marred by suspensions — four games in 2014 and 10 games in 2016.
But from 2017 through 2019, he made three straight Pro Bowls, and in 2017 became the Eagles’ first First Team All-Pro right tackle since Hall of Famer Bob Brown in 1968.
That Lane Johnson — the 2017 through 2019 version — is the one he expects people to see this year.
If not better.
“I’m definitely a lot bigger and stronger than what I was during the Super Bowl year,” Johnson said. “Whatever I’ve lost in speed I’ve made up for in power as I’ve gotten older. I feel much better than I did last year.
“Right now I feel fast. I’m around 330, I feel good and just trying to keep that rolling. Early in my career I played around 315, 320, and now I guess it’s easier to keep on weight when you get older. As long as it’s not slowing me down too much. I feel good, I feel ready.”
The Eagles had one of the NFL’s best offensive lines last year with Isaac Seumalo missing most of the season, a hobbled Johnson at right tackle and five different right guards. With a solidified lineup of Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Kelce, Seumalo and Johnson, they should be even better.
Seumalo and Johnson have been teammates for seven years now, but they’ve never played next to each other. Seumalo started two games at right guard in 2016, but that’s when Johnson was out and Allen Barbre was at right tackle.
“I’ve been so lucky to play next to a Hall of Fame tackle in J.P. (Jason Peters), probably a future H-of-F in Kelce and now another future Hall of Famer in Lane,” Seumalo said.
“It’s me adapting to him and him adapting to me. I not only try to perform at the highest level that I possibly can, but I also ask myself what can I do for my teammates today to make them better? And what can I say, how can I act, because me and Lane, we want to be dominant on the right side, so we approach the day very similar.
“Every rep is the most important rep of our life, and once that’s over we move on to the next rep.”
An obvious goal for Johnson is a return to the Pro Bowl after a two-year absence. The only Eagles offensive linemen to make four Pro Bowls are two of Johnson’s teammates and friends — Peters made seven and Kelce five.
“Everyone recognizes what type of player he is,” Sirianni said of Johnson. “I just see him confident in himself and playing at a very high level with his confidence and his skill, and he should be confident in himself because he's a heck of a football player.”
Workaholic Kaley Cuoco has another show coming down the pike | 2022-08-09T14:09:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles training camp 2022: Why Lane Johnson believes he's better than ever | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-training-camp-2022-why-110000993.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-training-camp-2022-why-110000993.html?src=rss |
The New York Giants released the first draft of their 2022 depth chart on Monday and to no one’s surprise rookie Daniel Bellinger was listed as the starting tight end.
Bellinger, a fourth-round pick out of San Diego State, comes highly touted and has been running with the starters at training camp this month.
“It’s been exciting, I just do what my coach tells me to do,” Bellinger told reporters on Monday on his experience thus far. “I go out there and just try to do what he tells me to do and try and compete. Again, just earn trust from not just my position coach but, Daniel Jones, coach Dabs, and really just try to do what they tell me to do and earn trust from them.”
Bellinger is considered a full-service tight end, one who can block as well as make plays in the passing game. He played in a pro-style offense at SDSU under head coach Brady Hoke and is fitting in well here with the Giants.
“Just the speed, trying to read defenses. Just learning how different defenses work and of course just learning our system,” Bellinger said when asked about the adjustments he’s making. “Just a lot more motions and stuff like that, before I’d just have to know my job like the Y and F positions, but now it’s critical that I know everybody’s job, the route concept, and the whole play and not just my route.”
After a small injury hiccup at the start of camp, Bellinger is going full throttle and the Giants are relying on him to catch on quickly. At SDSU, he was more of a blocker than a receiver. He hopes to change that.
“I’m pretty confident that I can show that and of course it’s whatever they want me to do. If they want me to go out there and catch a pass I will, if they want me to put my hand in the dirt to block, I’ll do that as well,” he said. | 2022-08-09T14:09:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants’ Daniel Bellinger trying to earn trust of coaches, teammates | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-daniel-bellinger-trying-earn-135504037.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-daniel-bellinger-trying-earn-135504037.html?src=rss |
Jim Bob Cooter
Former Tennessee quarterback Jim Bob Cooter made his debut as Jacksonville passing game coordinator during the NFL’s preseason Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.
Las Vegas defeated the Jaguars, 27-11.
Cooter lettered for the Vols in 2006. Following his Tennessee playing career, he served as a graduate assistant under head coach Phillip Fulmer from 2007-08. He was also Tennessee’s junior varsity head coach.
The former Vol returned to Rocky Top in April 2021, headlining the Sequoyah High School Football Coaches Clinic hosted by then head coach Ryan Bolinger in Madisonville, Tennessee.
Cooter launched his NFL coaching career with Indianapolis, where he served as an offensive assistant from 2009-11.
He was an offensive quality control coach in Kansas City in 2012 before serving as an offensive assistant with the Broncos in 2013.
From 2014-18 he served as the Lions’ quarterbacks coach and was promoted to offensive coordinator.
Cooter was the Jets’ running backs coach from 2019-20 and served as a consultant with Philadelphia in 2021.
Jim Bob Cooter returns to Rocky Top | 2022-08-09T14:09:23Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jim Bob Cooter debuts as passing game coordinator in 2022 | https://sports.yahoo.com/jim-bob-cooter-debuts-passing-130620157.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jim-bob-cooter-debuts-passing-130620157.html?src=rss |
The Seattle Seahawks have announced the 2022 preseason broadcast information, including the addition of two former players to the mix – fullback Michael Robinson and defensive end Michael Bennett.
Two of the Seahawks’ preseason games will air on KING, channel 5 in the Seattle area. The Aug. 13 matchup at Pittsburgh and Aug. 26 contest at Dallas will be called by play-by-play announcer Curt Menefee and Robinson in the broadcast booth, along with Paul Silvi and Ray Roberts on the pre and postgame shows. Bennett will also join as an analyst throughout the broadcasts.
ESPN has the rights to the Aug. 18 home preseason game against the Bears.
Regarding the radio side of the broadcasts, Steve Raible and Dave Wyman will once again call the action on 710 am Seattle Sports and KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM with Jen Mueller reporting from the sidelines. Michael Bumpus will host the pre and postgame shows alongside former Seahawks Jordan Babineaux, Paul Moyer, Ray Roberts, Marcus Trufant and Robert Turbin.
Last but certainly not least, the Seahawks announced that former Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch will “act as a special correspondent for the team, where he will produce creative content for a variety of projects” later in the season.
The first preseason game of the summer is set for this Saturday against the Steelers. | 2022-08-09T14:09:42Z | sports.yahoo.com | Michael Bennett and Michael Robinson to join Seahawks broadcast team | https://sports.yahoo.com/michael-bennett-michael-robinson-join-130010531.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/michael-bennett-michael-robinson-join-130010531.html?src=rss |
Roquan Smith wants out.
The Chicago Bears linebacker officially requested a trade Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. In a statement posted by Rapoport, Smith wrote that the new front office led by general manager Ryan Poles "doesn't value" him and has "refused to negotiate in good faith" while he looks for a new contract.
"... every step of this journey has been 'take it or leave it,'" Smith wrote. "The deal sent to me is one that would be bad for myself, and for the entire LB market if I signed it. I've been trying to get something done that's fair since April, but their focus has been on trying to take advantage of me.
Rapoport added in a follow-up tweet that Smith was "offended" by the Bears' offer because it was backloaded – meaning he wouldn't see a lot of money until later – and it "proposed de-escalators that not a single player out of the 94 non-quarterback, $15M-plus contracts has."
Smith's market
Smith, 25, has already been holding out for a new contract during training camp, where he's attended but not participated in practices. He's in the final year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to make $9.735 million in guaranteed salary. Smith has been a tackling machine since the Bears drafted him eighth overall out of Georgia in 2018 with 524 combined tackles and 14 sacks in four seasons.
The market for Smith could be lucrative if he's seeking to become one of the highest-paid players at his position. He's one of only five linebackers with at least 500 combined tackles since 2018 and three of the four – Shaquille Leonard, Zach Cunningham and Fred Warner – all signed new deals within the past year that pay them an average annual salary between $14.5 million-$19.7 million.
So, it makes sense why Smith wants to secure his financial future with a long-term extension in the same ballpark as his peers. However, it also makes sense why the Bears would be unwilling to meet his demands given their position in the league.
Poles already traded away six-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Khalil Mack this offseason, let receiver Allen Robinson walk and did nothing to upgrade the team around second-year quarterback Justin Fields. A team doesn't do all those things just to pay for an off-ball linebacker. The Bears have also reportedly received trade calls on second-year tackle Teven Jenkins and veteran pass-rusher Robert Quinn is also reportedly been a part of trade rumors while he skips practice.
The Bears look like a mess, and Smith appears finished with trying to play in it.
Roquan Smith is ready to leave Chicago. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | 2022-08-09T14:09:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL training camp 2022: Bears LB Roquan Smith requests trade | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-training-camp-2022-bears-lb-roquan-smith-requests-trade-131127346.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-training-camp-2022-bears-lb-roquan-smith-requests-trade-131127346.html?src=rss |
The Raiders running back situation has been the source of league-wide chatter lately, as RB Josh Jacobs became the subject of trade rumors following his appearance in the Hall of Fame Game.
Coach Josh McDaniels did his best to shut down any such talk during his pre-practice press conference on Monday, offering an emphatic “no” when asked if there was any truth to the speculation.
One reason some may think Jacobs is expendable is rookie RB Zamir White. McDaniels had plenty of praise for White at the same press conference, saying White “played fast” in his first NFL action against the Jaguars.
Conveniently, White spoke to reporters after practice. Here’s how he described his playing style, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic.
How’s that for confidence? White was likely encouraged by his performance in the Hall of Fame Game. He tallied 52 rushing yards on 11 carries and added 23 yards on three receptions. White displayed power when he converted multiple short-yardage situations and showcased speed and agility in the open field.
He was a five-star recruit out of high school and could represent a steal for the Raiders, as he was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Injuries slowed White’s progress as a collegiate at Georgia, perhaps affecting his draft stock. And an undisclosed injury that has forced him to miss portions of training camp is certainly a concern.
But right now, it appears that Jacobs and White have an opportunity to become a potent one-two punch for the Raiders. Jacobs has had injury issues of his own in the NFL, and together, White and Jacobs could keep each other fresh.
McDaniels’ roster will be further evaluated as the preseason continues, but the running back room looks as talented as it’s been in years, considering Jacobs played collegiately at Alabama.
Additionally, it would be a victory for McDaniels if White produced as a rookie because the Raiders traded away their first two picks of the draft in the Davante Adams deal.
And if White can continue to be dominant, powerful, and fast, the Raiders backfield will be a supreme compliment to Adams and the rest of Las Vegas’ playmakers, as the team attempts to build on its 10-7 record from a year ago and go deep into the playoffs. | 2022-08-09T14:10:14Z | sports.yahoo.com | Raiders RB Zamir White describes his playing style as ‘Dominant, powerful, fast’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-rb-zamir-white-describes-120412240.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-rb-zamir-white-describes-120412240.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens found a gem in kicker Justin Tucker when he signed with the team as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Texas in 2012. Since entering the NFL, Tucker has made history and proven to be one of the best (if not the best) kicker of all time.
On Monday, the Ravens announced that they signed Tucker to a four-year contract extension that keeps him in Baltimore through the 2027. Following the news, head coach John Harbaugh spoke to after the team’s training camp practice. When asked if he was pleased with Tucker being under contract through 2027, Harbaugh said he didn’t have any doubt.
"You knew it was gonna happen" 😏
Harbs on @jtuck9's extension today: pic.twitter.com/X14kgxkk1C
“Yes, I didn’t have any doubt he would be. It was just a matter of … You knew it was going to happen. You knew it was going to happen, I’ll leave it at that. You want me to comment on Justin [Tucker]? _(Reporter: “Yes, please.”)Is it even necessary? Justin is beyond what kind of a kicker he is and all of that, I would say the kind of leader he is, the guy he is to be around. Being out here with the mindset that he takes to it in terms of his work ethic, also his sense of humor, his understanding of the moment. Even in the meetings, he always has some kind of a comment. He laughs at my jokes, which I really appreciate. (laughter)So, we’re happy to have him back.”
Through his 12 NFL seasons, Tucker has been selected to five Pro Bowls, named a First-Team AP All-Pro four times and has a 91.1% career field goal percentage, making him the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Many expect Tucker to enter the Hall of Fame when he decides to hang up the cleats, but for now he has plenty more football ahead of him.
A Louisiana law that aims to give renters more protections and introduce new penalties for landlords who evict tenants illegally is now in effect.
/ Aytu BioPharma, Inc. (the "Company" or "Aytu") (NASDAQ:AYTU), a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapeutics, today announced the pricing of its underwritten public offering of (i) 21,505,814 shares of its common stock, and, in lieu of common stock to certain investors that so chose, pre-funded warrants to purchase 1,750,000 shares of its common stock, and (ii) accompanying warrants (the "Common Warrants") | 2022-08-09T14:10:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens HC John Harbaugh discusses extension of K Justin Tucker | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-discusses-132533609.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-discusses-132533609.html?src=rss |
After practice on Monday, Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh was asked about his thoughts on how Dobbins looked. He said that he thought the running back looked “pretty good” in individual drills, saying that they might just add on more and more each day and see how he responds.
“I thought he looked pretty good in individual, first day back. He was out there in individual; you guys saw him moving around, running the ball-handling drill. That will be the first step. Maybe we add a little bit more everyday and kind of see how he handles it, and see how the knee responds. But, it seems like it’s so far so good”.
It’s likely that the Ravens continue to take a very cautious approach with Dobbins and ease him back into action. Coming off of an ACL injury is a big deal, and the team will do everything that they can to make sure that the former Ohio State star can return to the field setback free during the regular season. For Dobbins, Monday’s practice was the first step of a much anticipated return.
Justin Tucker made his new contract sound about as routine as one of his clutch kicks. “I joked to (head coach John Harbaugh) one day out at practice,” Tucker said. Tucker and the Baltimore Ravens agreed to a four-year extension worth $24 million. | 2022-08-09T14:10:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens HC John Harbaugh shares thoughts on first practice of 2022 for RB J.K. Dobbins | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-shares-120748669.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-shares-120748669.html?src=rss |
Robert Saleh: Doesn’t look good for Mekhi Becton originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
The man accused of killing a Chinese food delivery driver, dubbed the "Duck Sauce Killer," has taken his own life. Glenn Hirsch, 51, was found dead in his Queens, New York apartment after sustaining a self-inflicted gunshot wound just hours before he was set to appear in court, law enforcement sources told the New York Post. Hirsch was out on bail while awaiting trial for the murder of food deliveryman Zhiwen Yan, 45, who was shot to death while making a delivery on April 30. He was reportedly e | 2022-08-09T14:10:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | Robert Saleh: Doesn’t look good for Mekhi Becton | https://sports.yahoo.com/robert-saleh-doesn-t-look-124314330.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/robert-saleh-doesn-t-look-124314330.html?src=rss |
Enjoy that sigh of relief. Multiple outlets now say that the New Orleans Saints believe Jameis Winston dodged a significant injury in Monday’s training camp practice, with NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill first reporting that the quarterback isn’t believed to be dealing with “anything major,” which was echoed by Nola.com’s Jeff Duncan, who adds that Winston will miss a few days of practice and New Orleans’ first preseason game because of it.
That makes sense. Winston completed four pass attempts and handed off the ball on a fifth play during 7-on-7’s before exiting for evaluations with the team’s training staff, and practice was not disrupted by his absence. He was not carted off the field or anything. It sounds like the team just wants to practice an abundance of caution with their No. 1 quarterback. Putting him in a live game while he’s dinged up isn’t smart.
Additionally, ESPN’s Adam Schefter quoted a source who said that Winston is “doing well and feels fine. So nothing to really worry about.” That’s about as reassuring as it gets. We’ll keep an eye out for Winston’s activity in practice, but for the immediate future it sounds like he’ll be resting his injured foot. That means more snaps for Andy Dalton and Ian Book, which is good for the Saints — the more they know about their backups, the better prepared they’ll be should Winston miss any time later on.
Justin Dunn, pitching in the big leagues for the first time in 418 days, allowed five hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings. | 2022-08-09T14:10:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | Saints QB Jameis Winston dodged major injury, won’t play vs. Texans | https://sports.yahoo.com/saints-qb-jameis-winston-dodged-130600952.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/saints-qb-jameis-winston-dodged-130600952.html?src=rss |
A pair of former Tennessee players made their 2022 NFL preseason debut in the Hall of Fame game.
Defensive tackle Kendal Vickers and fullback Jakob Johnson appeared for Las Vegas in its 27-11 victory against Jacksonville in Canton, Ohio.
Vickers, played for the Vols from 2014-17 after redshirting in 2013. He recorded two tackles and one sack against Jacksonville.
With the Raiders since 2020, Vickers has recorded 10 tackles and two sacks.
He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and competed in training camp with the Titans and Pittsburgh (2019).
Johnson played against Jacksonville and did not record any stats.
He is in first season with the Raiders after playing for New England.
Johnson played for the Vols from 2014-17. | 2022-08-09T14:11:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | Two former Vols make 2022 preseason debut | https://sports.yahoo.com/two-former-vols-2022-preseason-135345799.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/two-former-vols-2022-preseason-135345799.html?src=rss |
Bravion Rogers is ranked as the No. 39 overall prospect in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Texas native committed to Texas A&M back in early April.
Now Rogers has reopened his commitment after backing away from the Aggies.
Rogers is a two-way player playing defensive back, with most of the snaps at cornerback. He also plays wide receiver. Rogers was named to the Texas 13-4A II (yes, that’s the name of the high school district in Texas) First-Team All-District Team on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver and a cornerback as a sophomore. He repeated that feat as a junior as well.
Also as a junior, Rogers recorded 27 tackles, a tackle for loss, two interceptions, six pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries, including one he returned for a touchdown. On offense, he ran for 1,006 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 9.7 yards per carry, while also catching nine passes for 336 yards and six more scores.
The four-star cornerback has 21 total offers, including USC, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Oregon, LSU and Tennessee.
Let’s see if the Texas native could possibly come out west for a visit in the near future. | 2022-08-09T14:43:39Z | sports.yahoo.com | 2023 USC target Bravion Rogers decommits from Texas A&M | https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-usc-target-bravion-rogers-143116335.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-usc-target-bravion-rogers-143116335.html?src=rss |
We all knew the Roquan Smith contract situation with the Bears wasn’t good. It’s not exactly ideal when your star linebacker is “holding in” at training camp. But it seems like the situation was worse than any of us imagined.
Smith has formally requested a trade from the Bears in a detailed note shared by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Smith, a two-time All-Pro, has been one of the best linebackers in the NFL over the last two years. If there’s anyone who’s earned a contract extension, it’s Smith. So it’s ludicrous that it’s even come to this point in August.
While Smith once again expressed his desire to finish his career in Chicago, he said “the new front office regime doesn’t value me here.”
It’s a shot at first-time general manager Ryan Poles, who told the media earlier this offseason that he wanted to get Smith locked down before the start of the regular season. According to Smith, he’s wanted to get a deal done since April.
The trade request is clearly a negotiating tactic by Smith to put the pressure on Poles to work towards a deal that would benefit both sides. Hey, it worked for Deebo Samuel in San Francisco. But when the Bears’ best player is saying the front office doesn’t value him or isn’t negotiating “in good faith,” it doesn’t look good to the rest of the locker room.
Smith previously shared that he doesn’t have an agent, so it’s just him in contract negotiations. As Smith ramped things up with a formal trade request, it’s time for him to get an agent with the hope of getting a deal done with the Bears.
Just because Smith requested a trade doesn’t mean that he’s done in Chicago. We’ve got to wait to see how this plays out. And it’s possible he actually signs an extension.
Still, however you slice it, the Bears’ star linebacker requesting a trade is a bad look for Poles. But you know what would be worse? Actually trading Smith rather than finding a way to get a deal done.
Your move, Poles. | 2022-08-09T15:18:07Z | sports.yahoo.com | Roquan Smith’s trade request is bad look for Bears GM Ryan Poles | https://sports.yahoo.com/roquan-smith-trade-request-bad-140354986.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/roquan-smith-trade-request-bad-140354986.html?src=rss |
Ron Counts
Former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was the talk of the NFL offseason when he was traded to the Denver Broncos in March, but a former Boise State quarterback found himself in the Denver spotlight once training camp began.
Wilson is going to be the Broncos’ starter as long as he’s healthy, and Brett Rypien is one of just two QBs vying to be his backup.
Rypien, 26, is competing with 36-year-old Josh Johnson, who came to Denver in March. The Broncos are the 14th NFL franchise Johnson has signed a contract with. The team doesn’t have any other quarterbacks on the roster.
Neither backup has distanced himself from the other through 10 days of training camp, Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett told reporters on Saturday, adding both will get a chance to claim the No. 2 job in the preseason. Denver will play the first of its three preseason games on Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys (7 p.m., NFL Network).
Rypien has flashed in camp. He capped an 11-on-11 drill Saturday with a touchdown pass to wide receiver Montrell Washington in the red zone. The fourth-year NFL signal caller has revamped his throwing mechanics and shown improved arm strength this year, according to Sports Illustrated. He ended the fourth day of training camp with a deep pass to wide receiver Kaden Davis that was on the money.
I asked #Broncos OC Justin Outten about his impressions of QBs Brett Rypien and Josh Johnson.@MileHighHuddle pic.twitter.com/ZhtYdClpMC
— Luke Patterson (@LukePattersonLP) July 30, 2022
Rypien took over as Boise State’s starting quarterback three games into his freshman season in 2015 after Ryan Finley was injured. Rypien then held the job for the rest of his career, and he finished his college time ranked No. 2 at Boise State in career passing yards (13,581), passing touchdowns (90) and completions (1,036).
The native of Spokane, Washington, still owns several Mountain West records, including career passing yards and completions, and games with at least 300 passing yards (21). | 2022-08-09T15:18:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | He set records in college. Now a former Boise State QB is vying to back up Russell Wilson | https://sports.yahoo.com/set-records-college-now-former-110000687.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/set-records-college-now-former-110000687.html?src=rss |
After the sigh of relief most New Orleans Saints fans let out on Tuesday morning following the good news around quarterback Jameis Winston’s injury, attention now turns to the team’s camp Day 12. While we do not expect to see Winston for the next few days (likely the rest of the practice week) there are still players to watch who get their first crack at preseason action this weekend. Here are three players to watch during Tuesday’s Saints camp, led off by the quarterback who will be executing the offense:
With Winston sidelined, the Saints get to show the value of one of their key offseason additions. Dalton, former Cincinnati Bengals signal caller, has been in a different offensive system in each of the last six years. For the team, having a quarterback with more than 160 NFL starts is remarkably important when losing a starting passer for any amount of time at this point in the offseason. Dalton and the offense should have no problems getting in and out of huddles and fringe players won’t lose an edge by playing with a less-experienced quarterback. Watching him pioneer the system will be interesting to watch today.
The Saints released their first unofficial depth chart this week ahead of this weekend’s preseason matchup with the Houston Texans. While it’s hard to draw any conclusions from it, some takeaways are worth at least watching. The team listed Ozigbo as in their second-string along with veteran back Mark Ingram. That should mean we’ll be seeing a healthy share of the former Nebraska Cornhusker this weekend. With that in mind, keeping an eye on the versatile and massive back will be wise.
One of the performances we have not talked enough about throughout camp is that of former Idaho Vandal Elliss. He’s made great plays in the run game, but has also worked his way into great position in the passing game as well. He’s had some downs, but the ups are hard to miss. He should be the undisputed strongside linebacker going into this season and his flashes of playmaking ability are unique across the unit. | 2022-08-09T16:06:29Z | sports.yahoo.com | 3 players we’re watching at Day 12 of Saints training camp | https://sports.yahoo.com/3-players-watching-day-12-142243921.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/3-players-watching-day-12-142243921.html?src=rss |
Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith has requested a trade. Smith has been holding out and not participating in training camp.
The Chicago Bears selected Roquan Smith with the eighth pick of the 2018 NFL draft. Smith has recorded 524 total tackles during his four year NFL career. Smith is one of the top linebackers in the NFL. He has 14.0 sacks and five interceptions during his time with the Bears.
Smith has been trying to negotiate a new contract with Chicago and has grown frustrated with the process. The Bears’ linebacker shared his frustrations with the process.
Unfortunately, the new front office regime doesn’t value me here. They’ve refused to negotiate in good faith… The deal sent to me is one that would be bad for myself, and the entire LB market if I signed it.
Roquan Smith is entering the final year of his contract. Smith is set to make $9,735,000 in 2022, but wanted to reach a long term deal with the Bears.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared the news of Roquan Smith’s trade request:
Watch: Former UGA RB Thomas Brown details journey to coaching with the Rams | 2022-08-09T16:06:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears linebacker Roquan Smith requests a trade | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-linebacker-roquan-smith-requests-135718051.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-linebacker-roquan-smith-requests-135718051.html?src=rss |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.